Green space and pregnancy outcomes: Evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES:To determine whether maternal exposure to green space during pregnancy is associated with birth weight and gestational age, and whether these associations are modified by demographic and residential factors. METHODS:Data describing 5091 mother-newborn pairs with residential address during pregnancy linked to data describing their green space exposure. Independent associations determined using linear mixed effects models. RESULTS:Maternal exposure to green space during pregnancy was not associated with birth weight and gestational age for the entire cohort. For pregnant women who have not acquired secondary school education, increased exposure to green space was associated with increased gestational age. CONCLUSION:The provision of green space might prove to be beneficial in terms of increasing gestational age for pregnant women who have not acquired secondary school education qualifications.