Maternal Age and Infant Mortality: A Test of the Wilcox-Russell Hypothesis

Gage, Timothy B.; Fang, Fu; O’Neill, Erin; Stratton, Howard H.

doi:10.1093/aje/kwn308

Cited by 16 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Regarding maternal factors affecting child mortality, the total fertility rate of 6-7 in Uganda is very high, 42 and child-spacing is often limited. Although low birthweight contributes to infant deaths 43,44 and is more common in teenage mothers, [45][46][47] no significant association between child mortality and teenage births was found. As in other studies, 48-51 slightly higher death rates were observed in children born to women in their 40s than in those with younger mothers, although, because the sample size of mothers over 40 was relatively small, the difference was not statistically significant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in child mortality: a prospective, population-based cohort study in a rural population in south-west Uganda

Zhang

Maher

Munyagwa

et al. 2013

Paediatrics and International Child Health

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in child mortality: a prospective, population-based cohort study in a rural population in south-west Uganda

Zhang

Maher

Munyagwa

et al. 2013

Paediatrics and International Child Health

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“…A statistical method of examining the causal role of birth weight, within the context of the proximate determinants model, has been developed (Gage et al 2004, 2009), based on the Wilcox-Russell definition of “causality” (Wilcox and Russell 1990). The aim of this research is to determine whether maternal education, as a measure of socioeconomic level, affects infant mortality indirectly (though birth weight), directly (independent of birth weight), or both.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal Education, Birth Weight, and Infant Mortality in the United States

et al. 2012

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This research determines whether the observed decline in infant mortality with socioeconomic level, operationalized as maternal education (dichotomized as college or more, versus high school or less), is due to its “indirect” effect (operating through birth weight) and/or to its “direct” effect (independent of birth weight). The data used are the 2001 U.S. national African American, Mexican American, and European American birth cohorts by sex. The analysis explores the birth outcomes of infants undergoing normal and compromised fetal development separately by using covariate density defined mixture of logistic regressions (CDDmlr). Among normal births, mean birth weight increases significantly (by 27–108 g) with higher maternal education. Mortality declines significantly (by a factor of 0.40–0.96) through the direct effect of education. The indirect effect of education among normal births is small but significant in three cohorts. Furthermore, the indirect effect of maternal education tends to increase mortality despite improved birth weight. Among compromised births, education has small and inconsistent effects on birth weight and infant mortality. Overall, our results are consistent with the view that the decrease in infant death by socioeconomic level is not mediated by improved birth weight. Interventions targeting birth weight may not result in lower infant mortality.

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“…Adolescent mothers and their babies have less prenatal care, more health problems, and more hospital admission 22. In general, mothers between 25-35-years-of-age are more likely to have healthier babies who display more appropriate GA-related birth weight and lower mortality rate 23. It is not clear why maternal age is an influential factor on salivary cortisol level in infants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress Responses of Neonates Related to Maternal Characteristics

Joung

Cho

2011

Yonsei Med J

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PurposeTo investigate the pre- and post-heelstick stress response patterns of infants and to identify related maternal factors.Materials and MethodsFifty-two mothers and their 57 infants were studied. Stress response patterns in neonates were collected by measurements of pulse rate, oxygen saturation, and salivary cortisol. Maternal demographic factors and awakening saliva were collected.ResultsMedian level of pulse rate of infant increased from 132.1 to 140.4 beats per minute and salivary cortisol was elevated from 0.41 µg/dL to 0.70 µg/dL during the periods of discomfort, while oxygen saturation decreased from 97% to 95%. Infant's pulse rate change was negatively correlated with gestational age (GA) (r = - 0.37, p < 0.05), whereas the change of infants' salivary cortisol was correlated positively with maternal age (r = 0.29, p < 0.05). GA was the only independently significant predictor of pulse rate responses (R2 = 0.15, p < 0.05). Influence of maternal age on infants' salivary cortisol changes (R2 = 0.09, p < 0.05) was observed in a stepwise multiple regression.ConclusionThese findings suggest that maternal age and gestational period can be influential factors for stress responses in infants. Therefore, it would be important to consider the demographic characteristics of mother-infant pairs to evaluate these influential factors.

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Maternal Age and Infant Mortality: A Test of the Wilcox-Russell Hypothesis

Cited by 16 publications

References 23 publications

Trends in child mortality: a prospective, population-based cohort study in a rural population in south-west Uganda

Trends in child mortality: a prospective, population-based cohort study in a rural population in south-west Uganda

Maternal Education, Birth Weight, and Infant Mortality in the United States

Stress Responses of Neonates Related to Maternal Characteristics

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