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Maternal food insecurity increases the risk of low birth weight babies: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Ariane Ribeiro de Freitas Rocha1, Núbia de Souza de Morais1, Francilene Maria Azevedo1

  • 1Department of Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|June 19, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Maternal food insecurity significantly increases the risk of low birth weight (LBW) in infants. This systematic review highlights the urgent need for policies ensuring pregnant women

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Maternal-Child Health
  • Nutritional Epidemiology

Background:

  • Maternal food insecurity is a growing concern impacting infant health outcomes.
  • Low birth weight (LBW) is a critical indicator of neonatal health and future development.

Approach:

  • A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
  • Searches were performed across major databases (Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, LILACS, Google Scholar) from October 2022 to September 2023.
  • Included studies underwent rigorous quality and risk of bias assessment.

Key Points:

  • Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria.
  • Mothers experiencing food insecurity had a 3.09 times higher risk of delivering LBW infants compared to food-secure mothers.
  • This association underscores the detrimental effects of food insecurity on fetal growth.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal care and monitoring of pregnant women's nutritional status are crucial.
  • Public policies must prioritize food security to improve maternal and infant nutritional outcomes.
  • Addressing food insecurity is essential for preventing LBW and promoting healthier pregnancies.
Abstract

Keywords:
low birth weightmaternal food insecuritymaternal nutritionneonatal morbiditypublic health

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