An Increased Risk of Stunting among Newborns in Poorer Rural Settings: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study among Pregnant Women at Selected Sites in Rural Cambodia

Margit Steinholt, Sam Ol Ha, Chandy Houy, Jon Øyvind Odland and Maria Lisa Odland
Additional contact information
Margit Steinholt: Helgelandssykehuset, 8801 Sandnessjoen, Norland, Norway
Sam Ol Ha: Trauma Care Foundation, Battambang, Cambodia
Chandy Houy: Trauma Care Foundation, Battambang, Cambodia
Jon Øyvind Odland: Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Maria Lisa Odland: Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: We conducted an observational study of 194 pregnant women from two different study sites in rural Cambodia. Socioeconomic and anthropometric data was obtained from the women and their newborns. In addition, we collected blood and urine samples from the women for further analyses in planned papers. There were significant differences between the two study groups for clinical outcomes. The mothers from the poorer area were shorter and weighed less at the time of inclusion. Their babies had significantly smaller head circumferences and a lower ponderal index. Conclusion: There are significant anthropometric differences between women and their newborns from two separate study sites in Cambodia. Possible associations between stunting and exposure to Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS) as organochlorines and toxic trace elements will be investigated in future studies.

Keywords: persistent toxic substances; stunting; low income settings; Cambodia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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