Socioeconomic determinants of low birth weight and its association with peripubertal obesity in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION

Low birth weight (LBW) is an early life adversity associated with various risk factors and metabolic dysfunction throughout life. However, the role of socioeconomic factors in the association between LBW and peripubertal health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains unclear. This ecological study investigated the factors contributing to LBW and its impacts in Brazil.

METHODS

Data were collected from the Global Health Data Exchange as summary exposure values (SEVs), which serve as a proxy for population prevalence weighted by the relative risk. Additionally, information was sourced from official Brazilian government resources covering the years 1995 to 2017, resulting in a total of 338 state-year observations applied for temporal lagged analyses. First, we tested the SEV of 1-year lagged reproductive-age population (15-49 years) risk factors as exposures and the SEV of LBW as an outcome. In the second temporal lagged analysis, we tested the association between the SEV of LBW as the primary exposure and the SEV of high body mass index (HBMI) in peripubertal population 10 years later as the outcome. Fixed-effects multivariable linear regression models with lags were constructed, adjusting for socioeconomic covariates.

RESULTS

The exposure of the reproductive-age population to smoking, alcohol, high systolic blood pressure, and HBMI was positively associated with the SEV of LBW. A diet high in sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB diet) was also positively associated, but the association disappeared when GDP per capita and access to primary care were added to the model. Regarding the repercussions of LBW, a 1-point increase in the SEV of LBW was associated with a 1.6-point increase in HBMI in the peripubertal population (95% CI: 0.66 to 2.55). However, this association disappeared after adjusting for GDP per capita and access to primary care, indicating their confounding roles.

DISCUSSION

Our study highlights several risk factors in the adult population associated with LBW and its relationship with peripubertal HBMI. Interestingly, GDP per capita and access to primary care were found to be the socioeconomic determinants for birth outcomes as a result of exposure to the risk factors tested and the mid-term effects of LBW. These findings enhance our understanding of the role of socioeconomic factors contributing to LBW in LMICs and the need for public policies addressing healthcare and welfare to reduce the burden of LBW in LMICs.