The Cumulative Risk of Prenatal Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors on Birth Outcomes in Suriname

Anisma R. Gokoel, Arti Shankar, Firoz Abdoel Wahid, Ashna D. Hindori-Mohangoo, Hannah H. Covert, Jeffrey K. Wickliffe, Emily W. Harville, Wilco C. W. R. Zijlmans and Maureen Y. Lichtveld
Additional contact information
Anisma R. Gokoel: Scientific Research Center Suriname, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname
Arti Shankar: Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Firoz Abdoel Wahid: Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
Ashna D. Hindori-Mohangoo: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Hannah H. Covert: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Jeffrey K. Wickliffe: School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Emily W. Harville: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Wilco C. W. R. Zijlmans: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
Maureen Y. Lichtveld: Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: The cumulative exposure to chemical and non-chemical stressors may have an impact on birth outcomes. The aim of this study is to examine the cumulative exposure of a mixture of chemicals (mercury, lead, selenium and tin) and non-chemical stressors (social support, perceived stress, probable depression and BMI) on birth outcomes (birthweight, gestational age at birth, and Apgar score at 5 min). The study population is a subset ( n = 384) of the Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health–MeKiTamara prospective cohort study. Associations between the latent chemical construct, non-chemical stressors and birth outcomes were assessed using path models. The results showed a significant direct relationship between perceived stress and birthweight (? = ?0.17), however even though the relationship between perceived stress and depression was significant in all three path models (? = 0.61), the association between depression and birth outcomes was not significant. Perceived stress was significantly associated with community engagement (? = ?0.12) and individual resilience (? = ?0.12). BMI (? = 0.12) was also significantly directly associated with birthweight. The latent chemical construct did not show an association with the birth outcomes. Our data indicate the need for the development of a support system for pregnant women by involving them in prenatal care programs to reduce maternal stress, which may also influence depression and (in)directly improve the birth outcomes. Interventions regarding weight management for women of childbearing age are necessary to halt obesity and its negative effects on birth outcomes.

Keywords: chemical stressors; non-chemical stressors; birth outcomes; cumulative exposure; path model; Suriname; CCREOH–MeKiTamara study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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