Maternal fetal programming of birthweight among Australian Aboriginal infants: a population-based data linkage study

Publication date: Available online 21 February 2019Source: The Lancet Global HealthAuthor(s): Alison J Gibberd, Judy M Simpson, Bridgette J McNamara, Sandra J EadesSummaryBackgroundLow birthweight, which is common among Australian Aboriginal infants, has been found to persist across generations because of shared genetic and environmental factors and possibly fetal programming. Fetal programming refers to the response of a fetus to hostile uterine conditions with lifelong effects and possibly, in turn, providing a poorer uterine environment for future offspring. Fetal programming might have a greater effect in populations that have undergone rapid lifestyle transitions—for example, Indigenous populations. Disentangling causal effects is difficult, but family-based approaches could provide insights. We explored whether poor maternal fetal growth caused low birthweight in Aboriginal infants.MethodsIn this data linkage study, we used linked administrative health records of 12 865 singleton Aboriginal infants born in Western Australia between 1980 and 2010 and their relatives (including siblings born in 2011). Electronic birth records included all births since 1980 with at least 20 weeks completed gestation or a birthweight of 400 g. We compared parental–offspring birthweight associations using three approaches—a regression analysis of the complete sample, adjusting for confounding variables; a comparison of the maternal–offspring and paternal–offspring associations; a...
Source: The Lancet Global Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research