Prenatal care and child growth and schooling in four low- and medium-income countries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The effectiveness of prenatal care for improving birth and subsequent child outcomes in low-income countries remains controversial, with much of the evidence to date coming from high-income countries and focused on early-life outcomes. We examined associations between prenatal care visits and birth weight, height-for-age at 24 months and attained schooling in four low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

We pooled data from prospective birth-cohort studies from Brazil, Guatemala, Philippines and South Africa. We created a prenatal care utilization index based on the number and timing of prenatal visits. Associations were examined between this index and birth weight, height-for-age at 24 months, and highest attained schooling grade until adulthood.

Results

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5291430 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature