Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
J Res Health Sci. 2024 Sep 30;24(4):e00630. doi: 10.34172/jrhs.2024.165.
Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health issue associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to examine the association between household food insecurity and LBW in Mashhad, Iran. A population-based case-control study.
This study involved 6294 mothers (3247 cases and 3247 controls) who visited healthcare centers affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences for term births between March 2019 and March 2022. Cases included women who delivered neonates weighing<2500 g, while controls delivered babies≥2500 g. Food security was measured using the validated Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Logistic regression models examined the associations between food insecurity and LBW. Geographic information system techniques mapped LBW distribution in Mashhad.
Household food insecurity was significantly associated with higher odds of LBW (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 1.53). Other risk factors included younger maternal age (AOR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.04), lower maternal education (AOR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.71), cesarean delivery (AOR=1.70, 95% CI: 1.40, 2.06), and exposure to secondhand smoke (AOR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.75). Gestational diabetes demonstrated a protective effect (AOR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.91). Geographic mapping revealed that regions with higher food insecurity had elevated LBW prevalence.
These findings underscore the importance of addressing food insecurity among pregnant women to reduce the risk of LBW and improve newborn outcomes.
低出生体重（LBW）是一个与新生儿发病率和死亡率增加相关的重大公共卫生问题。本研究旨在探讨伊朗马什哈德家庭食物不安全与 LBW 之间的关系。
本研究采用基于人群的病例对照研究。共纳入了 6294 名（3247 例病例和 3247 例对照）于 2019 年 3 月至 2022 年 3 月期间在马什哈德医科大学附属医院就诊的足月分娩产妇。病例组包括新生儿体重<2500g 的产妇，对照组包括新生儿体重≥2500g 的产妇。采用经过验证的家庭食物不安全获取量表来评估食物安全状况。采用 logistic 回归模型来检验食物不安全与 LBW 之间的关联。采用地理信息系统技术绘制了马什哈德 LBW 的分布情况。
家庭食物不安全与 LBW 的发生风险显著相关（调整后的比值比[OR] = 1.25，95%置信区间[CI]：1.03，1.53）。其他危险因素包括产妇年龄较小（OR=1.03，95% CI：1.01，1.04）、产妇教育程度较低（OR=0.55，95% CI：0.43，0.71）、剖宫产（OR=1.70，95% CI：1.40，2.06）和二手烟暴露（OR=1.68，95% CI：1.02，2.75）。妊娠期糖尿病则具有保护作用（OR=0.37，95% CI：0.15，0.91）。地理绘图显示，食物不安全程度较高的地区 LBW 患病率较高。
这些研究结果强调了在孕妇中解决食物不安全问题的重要性，以降低 LBW 的发生风险并改善新生儿结局。
