Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

712

Long-term consequences of unintended pregnancy: Impacts on early childhood growth and development in a multicenter

Linda Yanti1, Surtiningsih2, Fauziah Hanum Nur Ardiyani2

  • 1Midwifery Study Program, Faculty of Health, Universitas Harapan Bangsa, Banyumas 53182, Central Java, Indonesia. lindayanti@uhb.ac.id.

World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics
|November 19, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Unintended pregnancy negatively impacts child growth and development, leading to issues like malnutrition and developmental disorders. Early intervention and family planning are crucial for mitigating these long-term effects.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Unintended pregnancies pose risks to child well-being and can create socioeconomic challenges.
  • Limited research exists on the long-term effects of unintended pregnancy on child development, especially in multicenter settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term consequences of unintended pregnancy on early childhood growth and development.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 700 children (≤ 5 years) across Indonesian research centers.
  • Data collected through interviews, anthropometric measurements, and developmental assessments.
  • Analysis utilized multivariate statistics and partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Main Results:

  • Unintended pregnancy significantly impacted child growth (P < 0.001) and development (P < 0.001).
  • Growth issues included underweight, undernutrition, abnormal head circumference, and stunting.
  • Developmental problems encompassed behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, social/motor deficits, and sensory impairments.

Conclusions:

  • Unintended pregnancy has significant adverse effects on child growth and development.
  • Highlights the necessity for early interventions and comprehensive prenatal care.
  • Emphasizes the importance of robust family planning policies.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child developmentChild growthDevelopmental delayStuntingUndernutritionUnintended pregnancy

More Related Videos

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

27.7K
Author Spotlight: Exploring the Long-Term Health Impacts of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection on Offspring06:11

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Long-Term Health Impacts of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection on Offspring

Published on: May 17, 2024

1.0K

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
22.1K
Longitudinal Research02:20

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
13.0K
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
722
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
3.9K
Longitudinal Studies01:26

Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
454
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
866