title: Childbirth expense support and small-for-gestational-age infants in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poor nutritional status during the fetal period could cause perinatal and lifelong health disadvantages in neonates. The aim of this study was to investigate the background of pregnant women receiving childbirth expense support (CES), pregnancy outcome, and neonatal anthropometric data.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was conducted using 823 antenatal and delivery records in a perinatal center located in one of the poorest areas in Japan. Neonates who were small for gestational age (SGA) were compared between the CES and the non-CES groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidences of low birthweight (LBW) and SGA were significantly higher in the group receiving CES (14.6% and 14.6%, respectively). The adjusted OR of CES was 2.78 (95%CI: 1.32-5.87) and the adjusted OR of maternal smoking was 5.03 (95%CI: 2.74-9.21), indicating that CES and maternal smoking were directly associated with SGA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CES recipients had a higher prevalence of SGA infants. CES was independently associated with SGA. Previous studies have shown that smoking is a major risk factor for SGA. Further studies are needed to identify risk factors of SGA specific to CES recipients.
authors: Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Division of Health Sciences, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Sayaka
authors: S
authors: Tsuchiya
authors: Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Division of Health Sciences, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Kazutomo
authors: K
authors: Ohashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000191:economics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: birthweight; low birthweight; poverty; small for gestational age; socioeconomic factor