RESUMO
Background: Limited epidemiologic studies have investigated the effects of pesticide exposure during pregnancy on low birth weight in offspring in rural China. Methods: A survey of a total of 503 women was conducted in Ling county of Shandong Province of China following delivery from 1 November 2009 to 8 February 2010. Results: After adjustment for confounding and compared with no pesticide exposure, multiple logistic regression showed a non-significant increased likelihood of low birth weight for both children of mothers exposed to pesticides when not pregnant (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 0.62, 5.22) and mothers exposed to pesticides during pregnancy (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 0.73, 8.08); multiple linear regression showed a non-significant reduced birth weight for both children of mothers exposed to pesticides when not pregnant (β=–0.59, p=0.28) and mothers exposed to pesticides during pregnancy (β=–0.89, p=0.15). Conclusions: Exposure to pesticides during pregnancy was associated with a non-significant increase in low birth weight in this rural Chinese population. Future studies using larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are warranted.