Cross-national comparison of prenatal methamphetamine exposure on infant and early child physical growth: a natural experiment.
The current study seeks to compare the effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure (PME) on infant and child physical growth between the USA and New Zealand (NZ). This cross-national comparison provides a unique opportunity to examine the potential impact of services provided to drug using mothers on child health. The longitudinal Infant Development, Environment and Lifestyle study of PME from birth to 36 months was conducted in the USA and NZ. The US cohort included 204 children with PME and 212 non-PME matched comparisons (NPME); the NZ cohort included 108 children with PME and 115 NPME matched comparisons. Latent growth curve models were used to examine effects of PME, country of origin, and the country × PME interaction on growth in length/height and weight. In regard to length/height, PME and country of origin were associated with initial length and growth over time. There was also a significant interaction effect, such that children with PME in the USA were shorter at birth than children with PME in NZ after controlling for other prenatal exposures, infant set, socioeconomic status, and maternal height. In regard to weight, there was only an effect of country of origin. Effects of PME on infant and child growth were shown to differ across countries, with exposed children in NZ faring better than exposed children in the USA. Implications for prevention programs and public policy are discussed.
Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Alpert Medical School, Women and Infants Hospital of RI, 50 Holden St, Providence, RI, USA, babar@wihri.org.
Beau
B
Abar
Linda L
LL
LaGasse
Trecia
T
Wouldes
Chris
C
Derauf
Elana
E
Newman
Rizwan
R
Shah
Lynne M
LM
Smith
Amelia M
AM
Arria
Marilyn A
MA
Huestis
Sheri
S
DellaGrotta
Lynne M
LM
Dansereau
Tara
T
Wilcox
Charles R
CR
Neal
Barry M
BM
Lester
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009520:New Zealand; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014481:United States
D008694:Methamphetamine