Mapping evidence on maternal metabolic conditions and child neurodevelopment in the Caribbean: a scoping review

Maternal metabolism and nutrition play a critical role in the healthy neurodevelopment of offspring during pregnancy. While numerous studies have established associations between maternal metabolic conditions (MMCs) and child neurodevelopment, the majority of this research has been conducted in high-income countries, particularly in the Global North. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize existing research on the relationship between MMCs and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children within the Caribbean region.

This review was conducted following the methodological framework outlined by Arksey and O'Malley. A comprehensive search strategy was employed using MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases. In addition, gray literature was sourced through Google Scholar, hand-searching, and citation tracking.

A total of 970 articles were retrieved from the database searches, with an additional 34 identified as potential sources of gray literature and all 1,004 were screened. Following screening and eligibility assessment, 14 studies were included; 64.3% address maternal exposure to environmental chemicals, 50.0% describe the use of standardized cognitive assessments, and 21.4% of articles discuss the incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring.

There is a notable scarcity of research examining MMCs and child neurodevelopment within the Caribbean context. This gap necessitates the need for regional data generation and policy-informed research to better understand and address the unique maternal and child health challenges in the region.

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