Association between maternal nutritional extremes and offspring mortality: A population-based cross-sectional study, Brazil, Demographic Health Survey 2006

Mariana Santos Felisbino-Mendes, PhD, MscN, RN (Nurse, Professor, Researcher), Alexandra Dias Moreira, MscN, RN (PhD candidate, Nurse, Researcher), Gustavo Velasquez-Melendez, PhD, MSc, BSc (Professor, Researcher)

Objective

to estimate the association between maternal nutritional extremes and offspring mortality in the Brazilian population.

Methods

this cross-sectional study used secondary data from Brazilian women of reproductive age obtained from the National Demographic and Health Survey 2006. Maternal anthropometric indices were used: height, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference. Logistic regression modelling was used to evaluate the relationship between obesity and offspring mortality. The data analysis was appropriate for the complex sample design.

Results

children of mothers of short stature were at greater risk of death in the postnatal period than children of mothers of normal height, even after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics [odds ratio (OR) 4.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31–15.77]. Maternal obesity was associated with mortality, and children whose mothers were abdominally obese were at greater risk of dying in the neonatal period (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.23–8.27). Children of mothers who were overweight or obese (BMI≥25 kg/m2) were at greater risk of dying in the neonatal period (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.12–5.16), and children of malnourished mothers (BMI<18.5 kg/m2) were at greater risk of dying during the postneonatal period (OR 9.47, 95% CI 2.07–43.41).

Conclusion

maternal obesity is a risk factor for neonatal death, maternal malnutrition is a risk factor for postneonatal death, and maternal short stature is a risk factor for mortality among Brazilian children.

midwifery

September 2015Volume 31, Issue 9, Pages 897–903