Do genetic risk scores for childhood adiposity operate independent of BMI of their mothers?

OBJECTIVES: Genetic predisposition and maternal body mass index (BMI) are risk factors for childhood adiposity, defined by either BMI or overweight. We aimed to investigate whether childhood-specific genetic risk scores (GRSs) for adiposity-related traits are associated with childhood adiposity independent of maternal BMI, or whether the associations are modified by maternal BMI. METHODS: We constructed a weighted 26-SNP child BMI-GRS and a weighted 17-SNP child obesity-GRS in overall 1674 genotyped children within the Danish National Birth Cohort. We applied a case-cohort (N = 1261) and exposure-based cohort (N = 912) sampling design. Using logistic regression models we estimated associations of the GRSs and child overweight at age 7 years and examined if the GRSs influence child adiposity independent of maternal BMI (per standard deviation units). RESULTS: In the case-cohort design analysis, maternal BMI and the child GRSs were associated with increased odds for childhood overweight [OR for maternal BMI: 2.01 (95% CI: 1.86; 2.17), OR for child BMI-GRS: 1.56 (95% CI: 1.47; 1.66), and OR for child obesity-GRS 1.46 (95% CI: 1.37; 1.54)]. Adjustment for maternal BMI did not change the results, and there were no significant interactions between the GRSs and maternal BMI. However, in the exposure-based cohort design analysis, significant interactions between the child GRSs and maternal BMI on child overweight were observed, suggesting 0.85-0.87-fold attenuation on ORs of child overweight at higher values of maternal BMI and child GRS. CONCLUSION: GRSs for childhood adiposity are strongly associated with childhood adiposity even when adjusted for maternal BMI, suggesting that the child-specific GRSs and maternal BMI contribute to childhood overweight independent of each other. However, high maternal BMI may attenuate the effects of child GRSs in children.

Cell-free DNA analysis of maternal blood in prenatal screening for chromosomal microdeletions and microduplications: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Scientific Societies do not recommend the use of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing as a first-tier screening for microdeletion and microduplication syndromes (MMs). The aim of this study was to review the current available literature on the performance of cell-free DNA as a screening for MMs. METHODS: Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched electronically from 2000 to January 2020 and articles reporting the diagnostic performance of cfDNA screening for MMs in large (>5000 cases) series were included. Between-study heterogeneity and random effect model for screen positive rate (SPR), false positive rate (FPR) and positive predictive value (PPV) were calculated. RESULTS: We identified 42 papers, seven included, for a total of 474,189 pregnancies and 210 cases of MMs. Diagnostic verification of positive cases was available overall in 486 (71.68 %) of 678 cases. The weighted pooled SPR, FPR and PPV were 0.19% (95% CI = 0.09-0.33), 0.07 (95% CI = 0.02-0.15) and 44.1 (95% CI = 31.49-63.07). In conclusion, the pooled PPV of cfDNA testing in screening for MMs was about 40%, ranging from 29% to 91%, for an overall FPR <0.1%. CONCLUSIONS: No confirmatory analysis was available in cases that did not undergo invasive testing, which were the vast majority of cases with a negative test, and therefore, the DR and the negative predictive value cannot be determined.

Maternal factors associated with prematurity in public maternity hospitals at the Brazilian Western Amazon.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse maternal factors associated with prematurity in public maternity hospitals. DESIGN: Retrospective unmatched case-control study on two public maternity hospitals in the State of Acre, Brazil. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 341 newborn infants of premature birth (< 37 weeks; case group) and 388 newborn infants of term delivery (≥ 37 weeks; control group). METHODS: A validated instrument was used for interviews, and information was collected from hospital records. The variables were divided into five blocks: (1) maternal sociodemographic and economic characteristics, (2) maternal biological and reproductive characteristics, (3) maternal habits, (4) pregnancy complications, and (5) neonatal characteristics. The hierarchical analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The risk factors associated with premature birth were as follows: newborn infants of mothers who were born premature (p = 0.005), with low BMI (p = 0.006), history of a previous preterm child (p<0.003), who had stress (p = 0.020) and physical injury during pregnancy (p = 0.025), with quality of prenatal care classified as inadequate II (p = 0.001), which presented abnormal amniotic fluid volume (p<0.001), pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (p<0.001), bleeding (p = 0.013) and hospitalization during pregnancy (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The variables that were associated with premature birth were mother born preterm, low BMI, previous premature child, stress and physical injury during pregnancy, prenatal care inadequate II, bleeding, abnormal amniotic fluid volume, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and hospitalization during pregnancy. It is important to properly perform prenatal care, having a multidisciplinary approach as support, with the objective of keep up with changes in nutritional classification and monitoring of adverse clinical conditions.

A Latent Class Analysis of Parental Alcohol and Drug Use: Findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Previous measures of parental substance use have often paid limited attention to the co-occurrence of alcohol and drugs, or to the between-parent dynamics in the use of substances. These shortcomings may have important implications for our understandings of the relationship between parental substance use and child wellbeing. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a UK community-based cohort study from 1990 onwards (n = 9,451), we identified groups of parental substance use using latent class analysis. The 4-class solution offered the best fit, balancing statistical criteria and theoretical judgement. The results show distinct classes across the range of parental substance use, including very low users, low users, moderate users and heavy users. These classes suggest that substance use patterns among mothers are somewhat mirrored by those of their partners, while heavy use of alcohol by mothers and their partners is related to increased mothers drug use. We suggest that studies that investigate the effects of parental substance use on child wellbeing should pay greater attention to the dynamics of substance use by parental figures.

Oocyte origin affects the in vitro embryo production and development of Holstein (Bos taurus taurus) - Gyr (Bos taurus indicus) reciprocal cross embryos.

A reciprocal crossbred embryo production approach was used to assess effects of maternal breed on embryo development in tropical conditions (average temperature 22.0 °C and 77.9% relative humidity). Oocytes were recovered by ovum pick-up (OPU) from Gyr and Holstein donors (n = 90 Holstein and 83 Gyr OPUs). Female F1 embryos were produced by fertilization with sperm bearing X-chromosomes from Holstein semen (n = 615 Gyr oocytes) or Gyr semen (n = 255 Holstein oocytes). Blastocysts were transferred to recipients 168 h post-insemination (h.p.i.) (n = 70-144) and there were assessments of pregnancies until birth. Oocyte number per OPU (Gyr 10.0 ±â€¯0.7 compared with Holstein 6.3 ±â€¯0.4) and percentage viable oocytes (Gyr 78.8 ±â€¯1.9% compared with Holstein 71.2 ±â€¯2.2%) were less for Holstein donor animals. There was a 2.8 fold fewer total number of F1 blastocysts when Holstein donors were used (Gyr: 260, Holstein: 91). Pregnancy assessment during the different stages of gestation indicated the percentage pregnancy was less when embryos were produced from Holstein oocytes (Gyr and Holstein respectively: early pregnancy, 47.9% compared with 38.6%; mid-pregnancy, 44.4% compared with 31.4%; late pregnancy, 41.0% compared with 22.9%). Pregnancy length was also affected by maternal breed (Gyr: 280.8 ±â€¯0.6, Holstein: 286.3 ±â€¯0.7). It is concluded that in a tropical environment the maternal breed affects crossbred embryo development with pregnancy rates during the latter stages of gestation being greater when Gyr oocytes are used for production of embryos.

Maternal determinants of low birth weight and neonatal asphyxia in the Upper West region of Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Adverse birth outcomes continue to be a global public health challenge, particularly in low resource settings. Therefore, the present study aimed at assessing maternal determinants of low birth weight and neonatal asphyxia in the Upper West region of Ghana. METHODS: An analytical cross sectional survey was conducted among mothers who attended child welfare clinics (CWC) in six sub-districts. Pregnancy outcome data and maternal nutritional, health service and socio-demographics were obtained using a pre-tested questionnaire. Determinants of low birth weight (LBW) and neonatal asphyxia were analyzed using chi-square and multivariable logistic regression modelling. RESULTS: The results showed that the prevalence of low birth weight and neonatal asphyxia were 8.2% and 9.3% respectively. Multiple logistic regression showed that the risk of giving birth to a LBW baby was high among mothers who consumed alcoholic beverages [AOR = 5.93; 95% CI (1.22-28.84); p = 0.03], those who had food taboos during pregnancy [AOR = 3.31; 95% CI (1.02-10.77); p = 0.047] and not having additional meals [AOR = 3.16; 95% CI (1.0-10.0); p = 0.05] during pregnancy. Neonatal asphyxia was higher among new born babies whose mothers did not receive nutritional counselling in pregnancy [AOR = 5.64; 95% CI (1.48-21.60); p = 0.01] and those who had anaemia at 36 weeks gestation [AOR = 2.69; 95% CI (0.95-7.65); p = 0.06]. CONCLUSION: Maternal dietary practices during pregnancy could positively affect birth outcome in the Upper West Region of Ghana.

Development of Aggression Subtypes from Childhood to Adolescence: a Group-Based Multi-Trajectory Modelling Perspective.

The persistence of elevated subtypes of aggression beginning in childhood have been associated with long-term maladaptive outcomes. Yet it remains unclear to what extent there are clusters of individuals following similar developmental trajectories across forms (i.e., physical and indirect) and functions (i.e., proactive and reactive) of aggression. We aimed to identify groups of children with distinct profiles of the joint development of forms and functions of aggression and to identify risk factors for group membership. A sample of 787 children was followed from birth to adolescence. Parent and teacher reports, and standardised assessments were used to measure two forms and two functions of aggressive behaviour, between six and 13 years of age along with preceding child, maternal, and family-level risk-factors. Analyses were conducted using a group-based multi-trajectory modelling approach. Five trajectory groups emerged: non-aggressors, low-stable, moderate-engagers, high-desisting, and high-chronic. Coercive parenting increased membership risk in the moderate-engagers and high-chronic groups. Lower maternal IQ increased membership risk in both high-desisting and high-chronic groups, whereas maternal depression increased membership risk in the high-desisting group only. Never being breastfed increased membership risk in the moderate-engagers group. Boys were at greater risk for belonging to groups displaying elevated aggression. Individuals with chronic aggression problems use all subtypes of aggression. Risk factors suggest that prevention programs should start early in life and target mothers with lower IQ. Strategies to deal with maternal depression and enhance positive parenting while replacing coercive parenting tactics should be highlighted in programming efforts.

Cardiovascular Disease Among Women Who Gave Birth to an Infant With a Major Congenital Anomaly.

Importance: Having a child with a major birth defect can be a life-changing and stressful event that may be associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, yet the long-term burden of CVD for the child's mother is unknown. Objective: To assess whether mothers of an infant born with a major congenital anomaly are at higher risk of CVD compared with a comparison cohort. Design, Setting, and Participants: A population-based cohort study using individual-level linked registry data in Denmark included 42 943 women who gave birth to an infant with a major congenital anomaly between January 1, 1979, and December 31, 2013; and follow-up was conducted until 2015. A comparison group, comprising 428 401 randomly selected women, was 10:1 matched to each affected mother by maternal age, parity, and her infant's year of birth. Data analyses were performed between November 1, 2017, and February 28, 2018. Exposures: Live birth of an infant with a major congenital anomaly. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was a CVD composite outcome of acute myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, or stroke. Secondary outcomes included individual components of the CVD composite and other cardiovascular outcomes, including unstable angina, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease, ischemic heart disease, and aortic aneurysm. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses generated hazard ratios (HRs), adjusted for maternal demographic, socioeconomic, and chronic health indicators. Results: Median maternal age at baseline was 28.8 years (interquartile range, 25.3-32.5 years). After a median follow-up of 19.5 years (interquartile range, 9.9-27.6 years), 914 women whose infant had a major congenital anomaly experienced a CVD event (1.21 per 1000 person-years; 95% CI, 1.13-1.28 per 1000 person-years) vs 7516 women in the comparison group (0.99 per 1000 person-years; 95% CI, 0.97-1.01 per 1000 person-years), corresponding to an unadjusted HR of 1.23 (95% CI, 1.15-1.32), and an adjusted HR (aHR) of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.07-1.23). Women who gave birth to an infant with multiorgan anomalies had an even higher aHR (1.37; 95% CI, 1.08-1.72). Mothers of infants with a major anomaly also had an increased aHR of the individual components of the composite outcome and the other cardiovascular outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance: Women whose child had a major congenital anomaly experienced a 15% to 37% higher risk of premature cardiovascular disease. These women may benefit from targeted interventions aimed at improving their cardiovascular health.

Informal assistance to urban families and the risk of household food insecurity.

RATIONALE: Food insecurity is a persistent social problem affecting one out of eight households in the United States. While evidence shows that public assistance programs (formal assistance) are effective in reducing food insecurity, there is more limited evidence documenting how informal support, through social capital, affects food insecurity. OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of informal support (through instrumental social support, social cohesion, social control, and social participation) on food insecurity transitions using longitudinal data of a sample of disadvantaged urban mothers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. In addition, the study examines whether these associations vary by participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) using interaction terms. METHOD: The sample includes 2481 mothers of children between ages three and five. The analysis uses unadjusted and adjusted logistic regressions. Interaction terms are included to examine formal and informal support. In addition, the analysis uses structural equation modeling to examine direct and indirect associations of the informal support variables on food insecurity. RESULTS: Social support and social cohesion reduce the risk of food insecurity, reduce the risk of remaining food insecure, and reduce the risk of becoming food insecure. Social control has an indirect effect on food insecurity, which is mainly through social cohesion. Social participation also has an indirect effect through social support and social cohesion. SNAP participation for mothers with little to no informal support did not reduce the risk of food insecurity. CONCLUSION: Instead of focusing on improving the food access of households, interventions should be expanded to the neighborhood level. Building social capital for low-income residents would increase the cohesiveness of their neighborhoods and their access to social support, which would increase the availability of resources to prevent or overcome food insecurity and other hardships.

Maternal Characteristics and Incidence of Overweight/Obesity in Children: A 13-Year Follow-up Study in an Eastern Mediterranean Population.

Objectives To investigate clustering of parental sociobehavioral factors and their relationship with the incidence of overweight and obesity in Iranian children. Methods Demographics, body weight, and certain medical characteristics of the parents of 2999 children were used to categorize parents by cluster; children's weights were assessed for each cluster. Specifically, survival analysis and Cox regression models were used to test the effect of parental clustering on the incidence of childhood overweight and obesity. Results Maternal metabolic syndrome, education level, age, body weight status, and paternal age had important roles in distinguishing clusters with low, moderate, and high risk. Crude incidence rates (per 10,000 person-years) of overweight and obesity were 416.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 388.2-447.5) and 114.7 (95% CI 101.2-129.9), respectively. Children of parents with certain constellations of demographic and medical characteristics were 37.0 and 41.0% more likely to become overweight and obese, respectively. Conclusions for Practice The current study demonstrated the vital role of maternal characteristics in distinguishing familial clusters, which could be used to predict the incidence of overweight and obesity in children.

Gestational Weight Gain and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Underweight Pregnant Women: A Population-Based Historical Cohort Study.

Objective Limited data are available that estimate the effect of gestational weight gain on maternal and neonatal outcomes in underweight women according to revised 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines. Methods A population-based historical cohort study of 21,674 underweight women in Missouri delivering liveborn, singleton, term infants in 2002-2008 was conducted. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated for gestational weight gain categories with multiple logistic regression, using the 2009 IOM recommended 28-40 pounds as the reference group. Results Women gaining >40 pounds compared to women gaining 28-40 pounds had significantly higher odds for preeclampsia (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.56-2.42, p < 0.001), cesarean delivery (aOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.28-1.53, p < 0.001), large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infant (aOR 2.32, 95% CI 2.00-2.70, p < 0.001), and 1 min APGAR score <4 (aOR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01-1.83, p < 0.05) and significantly lower odds for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant (aOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.48-0.59, p < 0.001). Women gaining <28 pounds compared to women gaining 28-40 pounds had significantly higher odds for SGA infant (aOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.69-2.03, p < 0.001) and significantly lower odds for preeclampsia (aOR 0.72, 95% CI 0.53-0.96, p < 0.05) and LGA infant (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.39-0.63, p < 0.001). Conclusion Women gaining more than the IOM recommendation were at higher risk for many adverse outcomes, but at lower risk for SGA infants. Women gaining less than the IOM recommendation were at higher risk for SGA infants but were protective for preeclampsia and LGA infants. Prospective studies of other short- and long-term maternal/infant outcomes are needed to evaluate the efficacy of the IOM guideline.

The Relation of Maternal Birth Weight to African-American and Non-Latina White Twin Pregnancy Outcomes: A Population-Based Study.

Objectives The authors investigated the association between maternal birth weight and adverse birth outcome as measured by rates of low birth weight (<2500 g, LBW), preterm birth (<37 weeks, PTB), and small for gestational age (weight <10th percentile for gestational age, SGA) among African American and White twin pregnancies. Methods Stratified and multivariable regression analyses were performed on the Illinois transgenerational dataset of non-Latina African American and non-Latina White twin pairs (born 1989-1991) and their mothers (born 1956-1976). Results Former LBW (n = 104) and non-LBW (n = 742) African American mothers had LBW rates in both twins of 76 and 56 %, respectively; RR (95 % CI) = 1.4 (1.2-1.6). Former LBW (n = 105) and non-LBW (n = 2136) White mothers had LBW rates in both twins of 41 and 34 %, respectively; RR = 1.2 (0.9-1.5). In multivariable regression models, the adjusted (controlling for maternal age, education, marital status, parity, prenatal care usage, and cigarette smoking) RR of LBW in both twins among former LBW (compared to non-LBW) African American and White mothers equaled 1.4 (1.2-1.6) and 1.2 (0.9-1.5), respectively. Maternal LBW was associated with a modestly increased risk of PTB but not SGA among African American twin pregnancies: adjusted RR = 1.3 (1.1-1.4) and 1.1 (0.8-1.5), respectively. Conclusions In African American twin pregnancies, maternal LBW is a risk factor for LBW in both twins. Further research is needed to determine whether a similar generational association occurs among non-Latina White twin pregnancies.

An Old Mom Keeps You Young: Mother's Age at Last Birth and Offspring Longevity in Nineteenth-Century Utah.

This study analyzes the intergenerational effects of late childbearing on offspring's adult longevity in a population in Utah (United States) that does not display evidence of parity-specific birth control-a so-called natural fertility population. Studies have found that for women who experience late menopause and prolonged reproduction, aging is postponed and longevity is increased. This is believed to indicate female "robustness" and the impact of biological or genetic factors. If indeed there is a genetic component involved, one would expect to also find evidence for the intergenerational transmission of longevity benefits. Our study investigates the relationship between prolonged natural fertility of mothers and their offspring's survival rates in adulthood. Gompertz regression models (N = 7,716) revealed that the offspring of mothers who were naturally fertile until a relatively advanced age lived significantly longer. This observed positive effect of late reproduction was not independent of but conditional upon survival of the mother to the end of her fecundity (defined as age 50). Offspring's relative risks at death beyond age 50 were 6-12 percent lower than those of their counterparts born to mothers who had an average age at last birth. Our results, which account for various early, adult, and later-life conditions, as well as shared frailty, suggest that there is a positive relationship between mother's age at last birth and offspring longevity, and strengthen the notion that age at menopause is a good predictor of this relationship.

Emotion Expression, Emotionality, Depressive Symptoms, and Stress: Maternal Profiles Related to Child Outcomes.

This study investigated the relationships between various maternal characteristics and child outcomes in preschool age children. Participants included 128 mother-child pairs. Mothers and children participated in two observational tasks, clean-up and Tickle-Me-Elmo, which were coded for expressions of emotion, and mothers completed self-report surveys. A person-centered latent profile analysis was applied, identifying distinct maternal profiles defined by observed positive emotion expression and reported positive and negative emotionality, depressive symptoms, and parenting stress. Four profiles were identified, labeled Happy, Melancholic, Stressed, and Struggling. These profiles were found to be associated with child outcomes, including observed positive and negative emotion expression and problem behaviors. Specifically, the Melancholic and Struggling profiles tended to be negatively related to child emotion expression, while the Stressed and Struggling profiles tended to be related to greater child problem behaviors. The results highlight meaningful distinctions between concurrent, interacting maternal characteristics that contribute to child emotion socialization, and they suggest significant differentiations in the factors that contribute to child risk.

Prática de atividade física e perfil nutricional de mães com filhos de até 10 anos de idade residentes na área urbana do município de Santos-SP / Physical activity and nutritional status of mothers with children under 10 years old residents of an urban area in Santos, Brazil

In this study, we aimed to describe the physical activity level and nutritional status of mothers with children under 10 years old living in different socioeconomic areas in the municipality of Santos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. To this end, we used a cross-sectional design and collected data on physical activity level, means of transportation, anthropometric measures, and socioeconomic status through home-based interviews in a sample of 538 mothers. The physical activity level of individuals was assessed by a short version of the International Physical Activity Question¬naire (IPAQ). We used the Chi-square ande Kruskal-Wallis tests to assess the difference in physical activity level among various socioeconomic areas of the city and evaluate the association between this outcome and the nutritional status of women. We found a high prevalence of women with little activity (43.7%) and a high frequency of women who do not practice leisure-time physical activity (79.2%). When practice occurs, the most common exercises are walking (10.4%) and working out (9.1%). We also found a high prevalence of excess body fat (74.3%) and overweight (52%) among this population. A higher prevalence of leisure-time physical activity was found among participants from high-income areas. Thus, we recommend that new strategies to promote physical activity should take into account socioeconomic inequalities and cultural differences that can affect the physical activity level of the population.

Describir la práctica de actividad física y el perfil nutricional de la población de madres con hijos de hasta 10 años de edad, residentes en diferentes regiones socioeconómicas del municipio de Santos. El estudio tuvo un diseño transversal y los datos se recogieron por medio de encuestas domiciliarias con una muestra de 538 madres. Se preguntó sobre nivel de actividad física, medios de transporte utilizados, medidas antropométricas y datos socioeconómicos. El nivel de actividad física se evaluó por medio del instrumento International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ ? versión breve). Se evaluó la diferencia en el nivel de actividad física entre las regiones de la ciudad y se asoció dicha variable con el estado nutricional de las mujeres, por medio de los tests de Kruskal-Wallis y Chi-cuadrado. Se encontró una alta prevalencia de mujeres poco activas (43,7%) y una alta frecuencia de mujeres que no practican actividad física en su tiempo libre (79,2%). Las actividades de tiempo libre más frecuentes fueron caminatas (10,4%) y musculación (9,1%). También se encontró una alta prevalencia en el exceso de grasa corporal (74,3%) y sobrepeso (52%) en esta población. Se encontraron diferencias en el perfil de actividad física de la población, dependiendo, éstas, de la región de residencia. Se pudo verificar una mayor prevalencia de actividad física en el tiempo libre entre los residentes de las regiones de mayor nivel socioeconómico. Por lo tanto, se recomienda que las nuevas estrategias de incentivo a la actividad física tengan en cuenta las desigualdades socioeconómicas y culturales que influyen en el nivel de actividad física.

Descrever a prática de atividade física e o perfil nutricional da população de mães com filhos de até 10 anos de idade, residentes nas diferentes regiões socioeconômicas do município de Santos-SP. O estudo teve delineamento transversal e os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas domiciliares com uma amostra de 538 mães. Foram investigadas questões sobre o nível de atividade física, os meios de transporte utilizados, as medidas antropométricas e os dados socioeconômicos. O nível de atividade física foi avaliado por meio do instrumento International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ - versão curta). Foi avaliada a diferença no nível de atividade física entre as regiões da cidade e a associação dessa variável com o estado nutricional das mulheres, por meio dos testes de Kruskal-Wallis e Qui-quadrado. Foi observada alta prevalência de mulheres pouco ativas (43,7%) e alta frequência de inatividade física no lazer (79,2%). As atividades de lazer mais praticadas foram caminhada (10,4%) e musculação (9,1%). Encontrou-se também uma alta prevalência de excesso de gordura corporal (74,3%) e excesso de peso (52%) nesta população. Diferenças no perfil de atividade física da população apareceram de acordo com a região de moradia. Foi possível verificar maior prevalência de atividade física no domínio do lazer entre os residentes das regiões de maior nível socioeconômico. Recomenda-se que novas estratégias de incentivo à atividade física considerem as disparidades socioeconômicas e culturais que influenciam o nível de atividade física.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring conduct problems: evidence from 3 independent genetically sensitive research designs.

IMPORTANCE: Several studies report an association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring conduct disorder. However, past research evidences difficulty in disaggregating prenatal environmental influences from genetic and postnatal environmental influences. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring conduct problems among children reared by genetically related mothers and genetically unrelated mothers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The following 3 studies using distinct but complementary research designs were used: The Christchurch Health and Development Study (a longitudinal cohort study that includes biological and adopted children), the Early Growth and Development Study (a longitudinal adoption-at-birth study), and the Cardiff IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) Study (an adoption-at-conception study among genetically related families and genetically unrelated families). Maternal smoking during pregnancy was measured as the mean number of cigarettes per day (0, 1-9, or 10) smoked during pregnancy. Possible covariates were controlled for in the analyses, including child sex, birth weight, race/ethnicity, placement age, and breastfeeding, as well as maternal education and maternal age at birth and family breakdown, parenting practices, and family socioeconomic status. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURE: Offspring conduct problems (age range, 4-10 years) reported by parents or teachers using the behavior rating scales by Rutter and Conners, the Child Behavior Checklist and the Children's Behavior Questionnaire Short Form, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. RESULTS: A significant association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring conduct problems was observed among children reared by genetically related mothers and genetically unrelated mothers. Results from a meta-analysis affirmed this pattern of findings across pooled study samples. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Findings across 3 studies using a complement of genetically sensitive research designs suggest that smoking during pregnancy is a prenatal risk factor for offspring conduct problems when controlling for specific perinatal and postnatal confounding factors.

Profiles of maternal care observed in a group of Brazilian mothers: an exploratory study.

The aim of this study is to characterize profiles of maternal care in a sample of Brazilian mothers, using a cultural-biological perspective. Participants were 315 women who had at least one child younger than six years-old. They were selected from six Brazilian states. In each state, two groups of mothers were studied, one from the capital and one from a small city. They were interviewed and answered scales on allocentrism, social support, adult attachment, and practices of childcare. Mothers' characteristics, the type of context (capital vs. small city), and reported childcare practices were used in a Tree analysis. A Correspondence analysis was performed using the four clusters obtained and mothers' answers regarding their youngest child. Univariate GLM analyses were performed to compare mothers in the four clusters in terms of their scores on the different scales. Four maternal profiles presenting distinctive patterns of association between mothers' characteristics and care practices displayed to the youngest child were identified. We conclude that maternal care is a multi-determined phenomenon and that the method employed in this study can give insights into how the combination of diverse social-biological factors can result in a set of childcare practices.

Associations of estimated residential soil arsenic and lead concentrations and community-level environmental measures with mother-child health conditions in South Carolina.

We undertook a community-level aggregate analysis in South Carolina, USA, to examine associations between mother-child conditions from a Medicaid cohort of pregnant women and their children using spatially interpolated arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) concentrations in three geographic case areas and a control area. Weeks of gestation at birth was significantly negatively correlated with higher estimated As (r(s) = -0.28, p = 0.01) and Pb (r(s) = -0.26, p = 0.02) concentrations in one case area. Higher estimated Pb concentrations were consistently positively associated with frequency of black mothers (all p < 0.02) and negatively associated with frequency of white mothers (all p < 0.01), suggesting a racial disparity with respect to Pb.

Maternal nativity status and birth outcomes in Asian immigrants.

BACKGROUND: The study examines the relationship between maternal nativity, maternal risks and birth outcomes in six Asian sub-populations. METHODS: U.S.- versus foreign-born immigrants of Chinese (67,222), Japanese (18,275) and Filipino (87,1208), Vietnamese (45,229), Cambodian/Laotian (21,237), and Korean (23,430) singleton live births were assessed for maternal risks and birth outcomes. RESULTS: U.S.-born Chinese and Japanese mothers had lower risk and increased preterm births but similar infant mortality, while U.S.-born Filipino mothers had higher risk and higher infant mortality. U.S.-born mothers of more recent Cambodian/Laotian and Vietnamese immigrants had higher risk and delivered more small and preterm births, while U.S.-born Korean mothers had higher risk but no differences in preterm and low birthweight delivery. DISCUSSION: Asians in America are a distinctly heterogenous population in terms of the relationship between maternal risk factors and birth outcomes and the influence of maternal nativity on this relationship.

Estimates of general and emotional intelligence for self and parents in Iran.

Estimations of IQ and emotional intelligence for self and parents were investigated. Previous studies in both Western and African cultures have found significant sex differences in self-estimates of IQ and emotional intelligence, while IQ was rated higher for fathers than mothers. These prior results suggest the findings should be invariant across culture, and were expected to be replicated here in a predominantly Islamic society with great sociopolitical changes with respect to the Islamic Revolution. 187 Iranian university students estimated their own and their parents' scores on IQ and 15 facets of emotional intelligence on a normal distribution graph. The present results showed no significant sex differences in self-estimates of these variables, while fathers were rated higher on IQ. The implications of these findings are offered in light of sociopolitical changes during the last three decades in Iran.