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Maternal obesity and prenatal alcohol exposure are associated with child development: Results from the Safe Passage

Ayesha Sania1, Shreya Rao1, Nicolò Pini1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, United States of America.

Plos One
|April 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal alcohol use and maternal obesity negatively impact child development, particularly cognitive and language skills. Risk factors vary by location, necessitating tailored interventions for diverse populations.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Maternal and Child Health

Background:

  • The prenatal environment significantly influences childhood development.
  • Factors like prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), maternal socioeconomic status, and nutrition have varying impacts in different income settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the influence of prenatal and delivery factors on early child development in diverse populations.
  • To compare the effects of risk factors on cognitive, motor, and language development between South Africa and the USA.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of mother-infant dyads in Cape Town, South Africa, and the Northern Plains, USA.
  • Mullen Scales of Early Learning used to assess development in 1-year-old children.
  • Multiple linear regression models analyzed associations between prenatal/delivery factors and development scores.

Main Results:

  • Moderate-to-high PAE in Cape Town was linked to lower cognitive and expressive language scores.
  • Maternal obesity in the Northern Plains was associated with reduced cognitive and expressive language scores.
  • Household crowding, lower maternal education, prenatal depression, low birthweight, NICU admission, and male sex negatively impacted development in both sites.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal risk factors have significant, location-specific effects on early child development.
  • Interventions must be tailored to local social and cultural contexts to effectively address developmental disparities.

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