Childbirth expense support and small-for-gestational-age infants in Japan.

BackgroundPoor nutritional status during the fetal period could cause perinatal and lifelong health disadvantages in neonates. The aim of this study was to investigate the background of pregnant women receiving childbirth expense support (CES), pregnancy outcome, and neonatal anthropometric data. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using 823 antenatal and delivery records in a perinatal center located in one of the poorest areas in Japan. Neonates who were small for gestational age (SGA) were compared between the CES and the non-CES groups. ResultsThe incidences of low birthweight (LBW) and SGA were significantly higher in the group receiving CES (14.6% and 14.6%, respectively). The adjusted OR of CES was 2.78 (95%CI: 1.32-5.87) and the adjusted OR of maternal smoking was 5.03 (95%CI: 2.74-9.21), indicating that CES and maternal smoking were directly associated with SGA. ConclusionsCES recipients had a higher prevalence of SGA infants. CES was independently associated with SGA. Previous studies have shown that smoking is a major risk factor for SGA. Further studies are needed to identify risk factors of SGA specific to CES recipients.