Predictors of Maternal Serum Concentrations for Selected Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Pregnant Women and Associations with Birth Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study from Southern Malawi

Mphatso Mwapasa (), Sandra Huber, Bertha Magreta Chakhame, Alfred Maluwa, Maria Lisa Odland, Victor Ndhlovu, Halina Röllin, Shanshan Xu and Jon Øyvind Odland
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Mphatso Mwapasa: Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Sandra Huber: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
Bertha Magreta Chakhame: Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Alfred Maluwa: Directorate of Research and Outreach, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Thyolo 310106, Malawi
Maria Lisa Odland: Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Victor Ndhlovu: School of Life Sciences and Health Professions, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
Halina Röllin: School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
Shanshan Xu: Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
Jon Øyvind Odland: Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Population exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may result in detrimental health effects, especially to pregnant women, developing foetuses and young children. We are reporting the findings of a cross-sectional study of 605 mothers in their late pregnancy, recruited between August 2020 and July 2021 in southern Malawi, and their offspring. The aim was to measure the concentrations of selected POPs in their maternal serum and indicate associations with social demographic characteristics and birth outcomes. A high level of education was the main predictor of p,p ′-DDE ( p = 0.008), p,p ′-DDT ( p < 0.001), cis-NC ( p = 0.014), o,p ′-DDT ( p = 0.019) and o,p ′-DDE ( p = 0.019) concentrations in maternal serum. Multiparity was negatively associated with o,p ′-DDE ( p = 0.021) concentrations. Maternal age was also positively associated ( p,p ′-DDE ( p = 0.013), o,p ′-DDT ( p = 0.017) and o,p ′-DDE ( p = 0.045) concentrations. Living in rural areas was inversely associated with high maternal serum concentrations of p,p ′-DDT ( p < 0.001). Gestational age was positively associated with p,p ′-DDE ( p = 0.031), p,p ′-DDT ( p = 0.010) and o,p ′-DDT ( p = 0.022) concentrations. Lastly, an inverse association was observed between head circumference and t-NC ( p = 0.044), Oxychlordane ( p = 0.01) and cis-NC ( p = 0.048). These results highlight the need to continue monitoring levels of POPs among vulnerable populations in the southern hemisphere.

Keywords: persistent organic pollutants; birth outcomes; Southern Malawi (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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