Surrounding greenness is associated with lower risk and burden of low birth weight in Iran

Siqi Luo, Yaqi Wang, Fatemeh Mayvaneh (), Helder Relvas, Mohammad Baaghideh, Kai Wang, Yang Yuan, Zhouxin Yin and Yunquan Zhang ()
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Siqi Luo: Wuhan University of Science and Technology
Yaqi Wang: Wuhan University of Science and Technology
Fatemeh Mayvaneh: Hakim Sabzevari University
Helder Relvas: University of Aveiro
Mohammad Baaghideh: Hakim Sabzevari University
Kai Wang: Wuhan University of Science and Technology
Yang Yuan: Wuhan University of Science and Technology
Zhouxin Yin: Wuhan University of Science and Technology
Yunquan Zhang: Wuhan University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The nexus between prenatal greenspace exposure and low birth weight (LBW) remains largely unstudied in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We investigated a nationwide retrospective cohort of 4,021,741 live births (263,728 LBW births) across 31 provinces in Iran during 2013–2018. Greenness exposure during pregnancy was assessed using satellite-based normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). We estimated greenness-LBW associations using multiple logistic models, and quantified avoidable LBW cases under scenarios of improved greenspace through counterfactual analyses. Association analyses provide consistent evidence for approximately L-shaped exposure-response functions, linking 7.0–11.5% declines in the odds of LBW to each 0.1-unit rise in NDVI/EVI with multiple buffers. Assuming causality, 3931–5099 LBW births can be avoided by achieving greenness targets of mean NDVI/EVI, amounting to 4.4–5.6% of total LBW births in 2015. Our findings suggest potential health benefits of improved greenspace in lowering LBW risk and burden in LMICs.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43425-6

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