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Gender Difference in the Association between Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Birth Weight in Africa

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  • Patrick Opiyo Owili

    (Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, Eldoret 30100, Kenya
    International Ph.D. Program in Environmental Science and Technology, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Graduate Programs, School of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, Eldoret 30100, Kenya)

  • Miriam Adoyo Muga

    (Graduate Programs, School of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, Eldoret 30100, Kenya
    Department of Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Science and Technology, University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, Eldoret 30100, Kenya)

  • Hsien-Wen Kuo

    (Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan)

Abstract

The adverse health effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on children are well-documented, and yet, gender difference in low birthweight among newborns whose mothers were exposed to ETS during pregnancy still remains contentious. We therefore explored the association between ETS exposure and risk of low birthweight, and further determined the gender difference in the association between exposure to ETS during pregnancy and birth weight in Africa. The Demographic Health Surveys of 23 African countries with information on 208,027 newborns were used. The associations between exposure to ETS and birth weight was estimated using multiple logistic regression models. Exposure to ETS increased the risk of low birthweight in Africa (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.06; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.02–1.10). A stratified analysis, by gender, revealed that male newborns whose mothers were exposed to ETS were 1.08 (95% CI: 1.02–1.14) times more likely to be low in birthweight than those whose mothers were not exposed, with those exposed weekly (adjusted OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.01–1.35) and daily (adjusted OR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01–1.12) being more likely to have low birthweight. Exposure to ETS is significantly associated with low birthweight in Africa, mainly among male newborns. Gender could possibly be a modifier, and hence, research on biological plausibility is necessary. Moreover, a public health promotion on behavioral changes is likely to have a positive impact on newborns’ health.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Opiyo Owili & Miriam Adoyo Muga & Hsien-Wen Kuo, 2018. "Gender Difference in the Association between Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Birth Weight in Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:7:p:1409-:d:156207
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fuse, Kana & Crenshaw, Edward M., 2006. "Gender imbalance in infant mortality: A cross-national study of social structure and female infanticide," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 360-374, January.
    2. World Health Organization, 2015. "WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2015: Raising taxes on tobacco," University of California at San Francisco, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education qt1fh1f32m, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, UC San Francisco.
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    1. Yolisa Prudence Dube & Newton Nyapwere & Laura A. Magee & Marianne Vidler & Sophie E. Moore & Benjamin Barratt & Rachel Craik & Peter von Dadelszen & Prestige Tatenda Makanga & The PRECISE Network, 2020. "Interactions between the Physical and Social Environments with Adverse Pregnancy Events Related to Placental Disorders—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-15, July.

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