Persistence of lower birth weight in second generation South Asian babies born in the United Kingdom
Margetts, B.M., Mohd Yusof, S., Al Dallal, Z. and Jackson, A.A. (2002) Persistence of lower birth weight in second generation South Asian babies born in the United Kingdom. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 56, (9), 684-687. (doi:10.1136/jech.56.9.684).
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Description/Abstract
Objective: To assess differences in birth weight between all first and second generation South Asian babies born in Southampton, and trends since 1957.
Design: Retrospective, cohort study.
Setting: Birth records for babies born in Southampton from 1957 to 1996 were searched to identify all babies born of South Asian origin (including from the Indian subcontinent, East Africa, and elsewhere).
Main outcome measures: All information recorded in the birth record about the mother and baby was extracted.
Results: 2395 full term (>37 weeks; mean birth weight 3110; 95%CI 3092 to 3129) singleton births were identified. Detailed analysis was restricted to mothers either born in the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh (1435)) or United Kingdom (283). Mean birth weight and % low birth weight (<2500 g) were 3133 g (95%CI 3108 to 3157) and 7.5%, for first generation babies and 3046 g (2992 to 3099) and 11.7% for second generation babies. There was no trend over time to increased average birth weight in either first or second generation babies. Adjusting for other factors that were statistically significantly related to birth weight (gender, gestational age, mother’s age, maternal weight at 15 weeks, parity, and mother’s ethnic group) did not alter the trends.
Conclusions: For that group in the UK who derive from the Indian subcontinent, average birth weight is significantly less than the national average. There has not been any increase in the average birth weight over the past 40 years, and the birth weight of babies of women who were born in the UK are no greater. The persistence of lower than desirable birth weight may result long term in higher than average rates of diabetes and heart disease in these groups.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Research Report |
| ISSNs: | 0143-005X (print) |
| Related URLs: | |
| Keywords: | birth weight, ethnicity |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine |
| Divisions: | University Structure - Pre August 2011 > School of Medicine > Developmental Origins of Health and Disease |
| Item ID: | 25784 |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Apr 2006 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Apr 2012 02:23 |
| Contributors: | Margetts, B.M. (Author) Mohd Yusof, S. (Author) Al Dallal, Z. (Author) Jackson, A.A. (Author) |
| Date: | 2002 |
| Additional Information: | Research Report |
| Status: | Published |
| Contact Email Address: | bmm@soton.ac.uk |
| URI: | http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/25784 |
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