Abstracts

Maternal obesity is linked with newborn deaths in sub-Saharan Africa

In high-income settings, maternal obesity is a known risk factor for newborn deaths. This has also been shown for sub-Saharan Africa, where data are hard to come by. In the absence of longitudinal studies, the researchers relied on self-reported survey data collected from more than 80 000 women across 27 countries. The response rate was over 90%.

Women’s body mass index (BMI), calculated from weight and height measured at the time of the survey, was found to be associated with the risk of death in their newborn offspring in the 5 preceding years. Only births closest to the survey date were taken into account.

Although 2 out of 3 women were in the normal range of BMI (18.5 - 24.9), 13.7% (11 252/81 126) were overweight and 5.3% (4 266) were obese (BMI 25 - 29.9 and 30 or over, respectively). On the day of delivery and the next day, the odds of neonatal death were increased 1.32-fold for mothers who were overweight and 1.62-fold for those who were obese. No excess risk was seen in underweight women (BMI <18.5) or in overweight or obese women in the rest of the neonatal period, up to the 28th day of life.

The study could not pinpoint the mechanisms that may be at play. Potential candidates are prematurity, intrapartum events, or infections. The odds of neonatal death were 2.69-fold higher if the baby was born by caesarean section rather than vaginally.

Cresswel JA, et al. Lancet 2012 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60869-1]