Environmental Factors Linked to Birth Outcomes in Urban Localities Across Argentina

IF 1.8 4区医学 Q2 PEDIATRICS

Child Care Health and Development Pub Date : 2025-02-20 DOI:10.1111/cch.70054

Micaela Natalia Campero, María Dolores Román, Carlos Marcelo Scavuzzo

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

The impact of environmental factors on health is a key focus in public health research. More studies are needed to explore how environmental determinants influence birth outcomes. This study investigates the regional relationship between environmental conditions and birth outcomes in urban areas of Argentina during 2018–2019.

Methods

Data from 657 urban localities were analyzed. Prevalence rates of low birth weight (LBW), macrosomia, preterm births (PTB), and small for gestational age (SGA) births were calculated using data from the Health Statistics and Information Division. Environmental data were obtained from satellite sources. A principal component analysis with varimax rotation was applied to 22 environmental variables using Stata v15. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test evaluated sampling adequacy, and factor scores were calculated using regression analysis. Spatial distributions were mapped in QGIS 3.28, and clusters of environmental factors were identified through optimized hotspot analysis in ArcGIS Pro 3.2. Correlations between environmental factors and birth outcomes were assessed using correlograms in RStudio (p < 0.05).

Results

The spatial distribution of birth outcomes varied across the country. The analysis identified five factors, with a KMO score of 0.73. Spatial clustering was observed for all factors, with Pampeana and northern regions of Argentina showing the strongest adherence. Factor 1 (related to urban expansion) and Factor 3 (associated with high temperature) showed positive correlations with all birth outcomes. Factor 2 (favorable for vegetation) positively correlated with LBW and SGA births but negatively with macrosomia. Factor 4 (linked to extensive agriculture) was positively associated with LBW and PTB. Factor 5 (PM10 concentration) negatively correlated with macrosomia and SGA births.

Conclusion

This study provides new insights into environmental determinants of birth outcomes. Regional analysis of these factors is essential for evidence-based decision-making, particularly in climate change context.

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环境因素与阿根廷城市地区的生育结果有关

环境因素对健康的影响是公共卫生研究的一个重点。需要更多的研究来探索环境决定因素如何影响出生结果。本研究调查了2018-2019年阿根廷城市地区环境条件与出生结果之间的区域关系。方法对657个城市的资料进行分析。使用卫生统计和信息司的数据计算低出生体重（LBW）、巨大儿、早产（PTB）和小于胎龄（SGA）出生的患病率。环境数据是从卫星来源获得的。利用Stata v15对22个环境变量进行了主成分分析。采用Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin （KMO）检验评价抽样充分性，采用回归分析计算因子得分。在QGIS 3.28中绘制空间分布图，在ArcGIS Pro 3.2中通过优化热点分析识别环境因子聚类。使用RStudio中的相关图评估环境因素与出生结局之间的相关性（p < 0.05）。结果全国不同地区出生结局的空间分布存在差异。分析确定了五个因素，KMO得分为0.73。所有因素均存在空间聚类，其中Pampeana和阿根廷北部地区表现出最强的依附性。因素1（与城市扩张有关）和因素3（与高温有关）与所有出生结果呈正相关。因子2（有利于植被）与低出生体重和小出生体重呈正相关，与巨大儿呈负相关。因子4（与粗放农业有关）与低体重和肺结核呈正相关。因子5 （PM10浓度）与巨大儿和SGA出生呈负相关。结论本研究为出生结局的环境决定因素提供了新的见解。对这些因素进行区域分析对于基于证据的决策至关重要，特别是在气候变化背景下。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Child Care Health and Development 医学-小儿科

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

5.30%

发文量

136

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Child: care, health and development is an international, peer-reviewed journal which publishes papers dealing with all aspects of the health and development of children and young people. We aim to attract quantitative and qualitative research papers relevant to people from all disciplines working in child health. We welcome studies which examine the effects of social and environmental factors on health and development as well as those dealing with clinical issues, the organization of services and health policy. We particularly encourage the submission of studies related to those who are disadvantaged by physical, developmental, emotional and social problems. The journal also aims to collate important research findings and to provide a forum for discussion of global child health issues.