Persistence of lower birth weight in second generation South Asian babies born in the United Kingdom

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.

Iodine status during pregnancy in India and related neonatal and infant outcomes

“…This may be important because small-for-dates (included in low-birthweight) babies are more likely to develop hypertension, diabetes and related 'metabolic syndrome' disorders in adult life (35) . Indian women tend to have small babies (36,37) and Indians are particularly prone to metabolic syndrome (36,38) , which has an association with subclinical hypothyroidism (39) and multinodular goitre in regions with iodine deficiency (20,21) .…”

Design and characteristics of a new birth cohort, to study the early origins and ethnic variation of childhood obesity: the BiB1000 study

“…For example, infants born to women of Pakistani origin in BiB1000 are significantly lighter than babies born to White women. Previous research shows similar patterns (Leon & Moser, 2012;Margetts, Mohd Yusof, Al Dallal, & Jackson, 2002) and this is evident across generations moving to the UK, indicating a complex, and largely unknown, relationship between environmental influences (Kelly, et al, 2008) and biological mechanisms (Margetts, Mohd Yusof, Al Dallal, and Jackson, 2002). A continuous positive relationship (up to macrosomic weight) has been observed between birth weight and health (short and long term), with lower birth weight babies at greatest risk, including perinatal mortality (Ashworth, 1998).…”

Pediatric Pain Assessment and Tools: The Influence of Culture and Age on Pain Assessment

“…Ayrıca, ağrılı Çinli çocuklar daha sağlıklı olabilmek için dinlenmeyi, iyi beslenmeyi ve bakımı gerekli gör-mektedirler. 34,45,46 Farklı kültür ve cinsiyetteki çocuklar ağrıyı farklı renkler kullanarak ifade etmişlerdir. Çocuk-larda ağrı ve ağrı derecelerini temsil eden herhangi bir ortak renk bulunmamıştır.…”