Altitude and Its Association with Low Birth Weight among Children of 151,873 Peruvian Women: A Pooled Analysis of a Nationally Representative Survey

Akram Hernández-Vásquez (), Alicia Bartra Reátegui and Rodrigo Vargas-Fernández
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Akram Hernández-Vásquez: Centro de Excelencia en Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales en Salud, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima 15024, Peru
Alicia Bartra Reátegui: Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Tarapoto 22201, Peru
Rodrigo Vargas-Fernández: Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Científica del Sur., Lima 15067, Peru

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the altitude of residence and the low birth weight (LBW) of the children of pregnant Peruvian women using a nationally representative database. An analysis of individual-level data from the last 13 years (from 2009 to 2021) of the Demographic and Family Health Survey was performed. The outcome variable was LBW, defined as birth weight less than 2500 g, while the independent variable was the altitude of residence in meters above sea level (masl). To estimate the association between the two variables, the crude and adjusted generalized linear model of the Poisson family with a log link was used along with crude and adjusted prevalence ratios, which were estimated with their respective 95% confidence interval. A total of 151,873 women aged 15–49 years were included between 2009 and 2021. The pooled proportion of LBW was 7.0%. As the main finding, the children of mothers residing at an altitude from 2500 to 3499 masl and ≥3500 masl had a higher probability of LBW. It was found that the children of mothers residing at an altitude above 2500 masl were more likely to have LBW. Our results will help to strengthen the cultural practice of maternal health care and increase its coverage in women residing in high-altitude regions.

Keywords: low birth weight; altitude; epidemiologic studies; child and maternal health; Peru (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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