Diet, malaria and substance use linked to Pacific preterm births

Date:
February 23, 2022
Source:
Curtin University
Summary:
A new study has found diet, malaria, substance use and a lack
of antenatal care services are linked to one in 10 babies in the
Pacific Island region being born preterm and of low birth weight.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new Curtin University study has found diet, malaria, substance use and
a lack of antenatal care services are linked to one in 10 babies in the
Pacific Island region being born preterm and of low birth weight.


========================================================================== Published in leading journal The Lancet Regional Health -- Western
Pacific, the study reviewed primary studies and reports conducted from
the sovereign island states and territories of the region including Fiji,
Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Lead researcher PhD student Lydia Sandrah Kuman Kaforau, from the Curtin
School of Population Health, said the research was the first of its kind
in the Pacific Island region.

"Low birth weight, or babies born weighing less than 2500gm, and preterm
birth, or those born before 37 weeks, are the main causes of infant
and child mortality and morbidity in low and middle-income countries,"
Ms Kaforau said.

"While the prevalence and exposures of adverse birth outcomes is well
studied in low and-middle-income countries, it is not well known for
the Pacific Island region.

"Our study maps the available evidence on the prevalence of low birth
weight, preterm birth, and Small for Gestational Age (SGA), as well as
their corresponding risks in the region." Ms Kaforau said that there
were many contributing risk factors to preterm birth and other adverse
birth outcomes that could ultimately be avoided.



==========================================================================
"We found malaria in pregnancy and substance use, including betel nut
and tobacco, are the main drivers for low birth weight in the region,"
Ms Kaforau said.

"Similarly, we identified malaria in pregnancy is a risk factor for
preterm births, as well as obesity and obesity-related conditions,
which may induce hypertension and gestational diabetes.

"Further, the lack of antenatal care services was also associated with
adverse birth outcomes." The research was supervised and co-authored by Professor Gavin Pereira, Professor Jonine Jancey and Dr Gizachew Tessema,
also from Curtin's School of Population Health.

Dr Gizachew Tessema said the findings would inform future health promotion interventions for women during pregnancy.

"Additional research will contribute to improving knowledge gaps and
it's vastly needed in other parts of the Pacific region.

"Moreover, future study will also help us to explore the extent of
other adverse birth outcomes such as stillbirth and miscarriages." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Curtin_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Lydia S.K. Kaforau, Gizachew A Tessema, Jonine Jancey, Gursimran
Dhamrait, Hugo Bugoro, Gavin Pereira. Prevalence and risk factors
of adverse birth outcomes in the Pacific Island region: A scoping
review.

The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, 2022; 21: 100402 DOI:
10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100402 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220223104914.htm

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