ABSTRACT
Adolescent pregnancy and childbirth are associated with increased risk and challenges for both mothers and birth outcomes. To investigate the associations of growth change over time with parenting factors and to compare the differences between children born to adolescent and adult mothers in Taiwan, The dataset retrieved from Taiwan birth cohort study [TBCS] was collected by interviews using structured questionnaires, birth certificate and Passport of Well-baby Care of each child. Changes in body weight, body height and head circumference from birth to 18 months, as well as other variables were assessed by statistical analysis. There were 4.13% births born to adolescent mothers in 2005. Higher ratios of breastfeeding and working were found among adult mothers [p<0.001]. Significantly higher percentage of adolescent mothers caregave their infants up to 18 months [p<0.001]. Children born to adolescent mothers were associated with statistically significant lower body weight [p<0.001], body height [p<0.001] and head circumference [p<0.001] in spite of velocity and slop of growth patterns were similar over time. Breastfeeding did not significantly affected growth rate during the first 6 months. Generalized estimated equation models showed that gender and preterm birth were predictive factors for birth outcomes [both p<0.001] and correlated to changes over time. Adolescent childbearing was associated with preterm birth and lower body weight, body height and head circumference from birth to 18 months. The changes in growth and development among children born to adolescent mothers remain to be followed and evaluated with the TBCS
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Adolescent , Mothers , Cohort Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Breast Feeding , Body WeightABSTRACT
There is an upward trend for parents to resort to assisted reproductive technology [ART] treatment due to delayed childbirth or birth difficulties. This study investigates the pregnancy health and birth outcomes of women who underwent ART and analyzes the factors that influence birth weight to become<10 percentile when undergoing ART. This study analyzed results of the first wave of the Taiwan Birth Cohort study. Through stratified systematic sampling, 24,200 mother-and-child sampling pairs were obtained from a total of 206,741 live births in Taiwan in 2005; 366 of the babies were born with the use of ART. During pregnancy, mothers who used ART suffered from higher risks of complication than the natural conception counterparts, including gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM], pregnancy induced hypertension [PIH], and placenta previa. Additionally, babies born through ART had poorer outcomes than the natural conception groups: the low birth weight [<2500g] was 33.1% compared to 6.4% for babies born naturally. Pregnancy health and birth outcomes of women who underwent ART were worse than those who got natural conception. Types of maternal complication among ART women included GDM, PIH, and placenta previa. Having multiple births was the most important factor that causes low birth weight in babies. The results of this study can be used as a reference for the health and care of mothers and babies who use ART
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The public vaccination program of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was launched during 1984 in Taiwan, China. However, the long-lasting protective efficacy of HBV vaccination among adolescents older than 15 years of age was seldom recorded.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A seroepidemiological survey was conducted among 4575 first-year university students in Taiwan, China during 2000 to 2003, including the serological data of HBV by testing HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), surface antibody (anti-HBs), HBV core antibody (anti-HBc) and demographic information.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HBsAg carrier rate among male university students born before the initiation of the HBV vaccination program decreased from 12.8% to 4.8% among those born after the vaccination program (P < 0.001, chi(2) test for linear trend). Similarly, HBsAg carrier rate among female university students born before the initiation of the HBV vaccination program decreased from 8.1% to 2.7% among those born after the vaccination program (P < 0.001, chi(2) test for linear trend). Both male and female students in eastern Taiwan had the highest HBsAg carrier rate compared with the other places. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, compared with students born after July 1984, the adjusted OR of HBsAg carrier rate decreased from 3.10 for students born before June 1981 to 1.56 for students born from July 1983 to June 1984 (95% CI 1.96 - 4.91, P < 0.001; 95% CI 1.06 - 2.28, P = 0.024; respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Public vaccination provides long-lasting protection again HBV infection among the university students in Taiwan, China older than 18 years of age. There is a geographic variation of HBV infection among young adults in Taiwan, China.</p>