Housing conditions as a social determinant of low birthweight and preterm low birthweight.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between housing conditions and low birthweight and preterm low birthweight among low-income women.


METHODS
A case-control study was conducted with post-partum women living in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Southeast Brazil, in 2003-2005. Two groups of cases, low birthweight (n=96) and preterm low birthweight infants (n=68), were compared against normal weight term controls (n=393). Housing conditions were categorized into three levels: adequate, inadequate, and highly inadequate. Covariates included sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, risk behaviors, violence, anxiety, satisfaction during pregnancy, obstetric history and prenatal care.


RESULTS
Poor housing conditions was independently associated with low birthweight (inadequate--OR 2.3 [1.1;4.6]; highly inadequate--OR 7.6 [2.1;27.6]) and preterm low birthweight (inadequate--OR 2.2 [1.1;4.3]; highly inadequate--OR 7.6 [2.4;23.9]) and factors associated with outcomes were inadequate prenatal care and previous preterm birth. Low income and low maternal body mass index remained associated with low birthweight.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor housing conditions were associated with low birthweight and preterm low birthweight.
Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. mario@iesc.ufrj.br
Mario Vianna
MV
Vettore
Silvana Granado Nogueira da
SG
Gama
Gabriela de Almeida
Gde A
Lamarca
Arthur Orlando Corrêa
AO
Schilithz
Maria do Carmo
Mdo C
Leal
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors