1
|
Hanif S, Momo JET, Jahan F, Goldberg L, Herbert N, Yeamin A, Shoab AK, Akhter RM, Roy SK, Heitmann GB, Ercumen A, Rahman M, Tofail F, Wong-Parodi G, Benjamin-Chung J. Flooding and elevated prenatal depression in a climate-sensitive community in rural Bangladesh: a mixed methods study. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.11.25.24317922. [PMID: 39649600 PMCID: PMC11623739 DOI: 10.1101/2024.11.25.24317922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2024]
Abstract
Background Prenatal depression can have lasting adverse impacts on child health. Little is known about the impact of floods on prenatal depression in low- and middle-income countries. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 881 pregnant women from September 24, 2023 to July 19, 2024 in riverine communities in rural Bangladesh. We recorded participant-reported flooding in the past 6 months, administered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and obtained water level data and remote sensing data on distance to surface water. We fit generalized linear and log-linear models adjusting for month, wealth, education, age, and gestational age. We conducted 2 focus group discussions with 20 adult women. Findings 3.6% of compounds were flooded in the past 6 months. Compound flooding was associated with elevated depression (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 2.08, 95% CI 1.14, 3.51) and thoughts of self-harm (aPR=8.40, 95% CI 4.19, 16.10). Latrine flooding was associated with higher depression (aPR=3.58, 95% CI 1.49, 7.29)). Higher water levels and shorter distance to permanent surface water were significantly associated with mean EPDS scores. Focus groups revealed that domestic violence, inadequate sanitation, gendered vulnerabilities in accessing latrines, childcare difficulties, and food insecurity were key drivers of depression due to floods. Flood preparedness strategies included relocation, storing food, and home modifications. Interpretation Flooding, higher water levels, and proximity to water bodies were associated with prenatal depression in a rural, low-income setting. Inadequate sanitation and hygiene infrastructure were particularly strong drivers of depression. Funding Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suhi Hanif
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, CA, USA
| | - Jannat-E-Tajreen Momo
- Environmental Health and WASH, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b),Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
| | - Farjana Jahan
- Environmental Health and WASH, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b),Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
| | - Liza Goldberg
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Afsana Yeamin
- Environmental Health and WASH, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b),Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
| | - Abul Kasham Shoab
- Environmental Health and WASH, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b),Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
| | - Reza Mostary Akhter
- Maternal and Child Nutrition, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Ayse Ercumen
- College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Mahbub Rahman
- Environmental Health and WASH, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b),Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
- Global Health and Migration Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Fahmida Tofail
- Maternal and Child Nutrition, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
| | - Gabrielle Wong-Parodi
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Environmental Social Sciences, Stanford, CA, USA
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jade Benjamin-Chung
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ünsel-Bolat G, Yıldırım S, Kılıçaslan F, Caparros-Gonzalez RA. Natural Disasters as a Maternal Prenatal Stressor and Children's Neurodevelopment: A Systematic Review. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:1054. [PMID: 39594354 PMCID: PMC11590888 DOI: 10.3390/bs14111054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2024] [Revised: 11/03/2024] [Accepted: 11/04/2024] [Indexed: 11/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The intrauterine period is a time of high sensitivity in the development of the embryo and the fetus. Therefore, low levels of maternal stress are closely associated with healthy brain development in the neonatal and early childhood periods. There is increasing evidence linking natural disasters as prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) to neurodevelopmental disorders (including subclinical manifestations). Natural disasters involve many factors in addition to the trauma they cause, including loss and the physical and psychosocial difficulties that result from that trauma. This review article aims to bring together research findings on the neurodevelopmental effects of natural disasters on children as PNMS. It also looks at how factors such as gestational age and gender contribute to these effects. We conducted a systematic review on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, with 30 studies meting the inclusion criteria. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 1,327,886 mother-child dyads participated in the included studies. The results of the studies indicate that natural disasters have a negative impact on children's outcomes in terms of cognitive development, language development, autism/autism-like features, motor skills, performance in mathematics, mental development, sleep, attention, behavioral and emotional problems, and various psychiatric comorbidities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gül Ünsel-Bolat
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Balıkesir University, 10145 Balıkesir, Turkey;
| | - Sema Yıldırım
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Balıkesir University, 10145 Balıkesir, Turkey;
| | - Fethiye Kılıçaslan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Harran University, 63300 Şanlıurfa, Turkey;
| | - Rafael A. Caparros-Gonzalez
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigacion Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, 18071 Granada, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jiang H, Wang Y, Cheng Y, Zhang M, Feng L, Wang S. Transport accessibility and hospital attributes: A nonlinear analysis of their impact on Women's prenatal care seeking behavior. Health Place 2024; 87:103250. [PMID: 38696875 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Ensuring women receive vital prenatal care is crucial for maternal and newborn health. Limited research explores factors influencing prenatal care-seeking from a geospatial perspective. This study, based on a substantial Wuhan dataset (23,947 samples), investigates factors influencing prenatal care-seeking, focusing on transport accessibility and hospital attributes. Findings indicate a nuanced relationship: (1) A non-linear trend, resembling an inverted "U," reveals the complex interplay between transport accessibility, hospital attributes, and prenatal care visits. Hospital attributes have a more pronounced impact than transport accessibility. (2) Interaction analysis underscores that lower prenatal care visits relate to low-income and education levels, despite reasonable public transport accessibility. (3) Spatial disparities are significant, with suburban areas facing increased obstacles compared to urban areas, particularly for those in suburban rural areas. This study enhances understanding by emphasizing threshold effects and spatial heterogeneity, offering valuable perspectives for refining prenatal care policies and practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huaxiong Jiang
- Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China.
| | - Yuxiao Wang
- Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China.
| | - Yang Cheng
- Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China.
| | - Mengmeng Zhang
- Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China.
| | - Ling Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Shaoshuai Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Furuya S, Zheng F, Lu Q, Fletcher JM. Separating Scarring Effect and Selection of Early-Life Exposures With Genetic Data. Demography 2024; 61:363-392. [PMID: 38482998 DOI: 10.1215/00703370-11239766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Causal life course research examining consequences of early-life exposures has largely relied on associations between early-life environments and later-life outcomes using exogenous environmental shocks. Nonetheless, even with (quasi-)randomized early-life exposures, these associations may reflect not only causation ("scarring") but also selection (i.e., which members are included in data assessing later life). Investigating this selection and its impacts on estimated effects of early-life conditions has, however, often been ignored because of a lack of pre-exposure data. This study proposes an approach for assessing and correcting selection, separately from scarring, using genetic measurements. Because genetic measurements are determined at the time of conception, any associations with early-life exposures should be interpreted as selection. Using data from the UK Biobank, we find that in utero exposure to a higher area-level infant mortality rate is associated with genetic predispositions correlated with better educational attainment and health. These findings point to the direction and magnitude of selection from this exposure. Corrections for this selection in examinations of effects of exposure on later educational attainment suggest underestimates of 26-74%; effects on other life course outcomes also vary across selection correction methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiro Furuya
- Department of Sociology, Center for Demography of Health and Aging, and Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Fengyi Zheng
- Genetic Perturbation Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Qiongshi Lu
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, Department of Statistics, and Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jason M Fletcher
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, Center for Demography and Ecology, La Follette School of Public Affairs, Department of Population Health Science, and Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Noghanibehambari H, Fletcher J. Dust to Feed, Dust to Gray: The Effect of in Utero Exposure to the Dust Bowl on Old-Age Longevity. Demography 2024; 61:87-113. [PMID: 38214503 DOI: 10.1215/00703370-11140760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Intensive agriculture and deep plowing caused topsoil erosion and dust storms during the 1930s, affecting agricultural income and land values for years. Given the growing literature on the relevance of in utero and early-life exposures, it is surprising that studies focusing on links between the Dust Bowl and later-life health have produced inconclusive and mixed results. We reevaluate this literature and study the long-term effects of in utero and early-life exposure to topsoil erosion caused by the 1930s Dust Bowl on old-age longevity. Specifically, using Social Security Administration death records linked with the full-count 1940 census, we conduct event studies with difference-in-differences designs to compare the longevity of individuals in high- versus low-topsoil-erosion counties before versus after 1930. We find intent-to-treat reductions in longevity of approximately 0.85 months for those born in high-erosion counties after 1930. We show that these effects are not an artifact of preexisting trends in longevity. Additional analyses suggest that the effects are more pronounced among children raised in farm households, females, and those whose mothers had lower education. We also provide suggestive evidence that reductions in adulthood income are a likely mechanism for the effects we document.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason Fletcher
- La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Opper IM, Park RJ, Husted L. The effect of natural disasters on human capital in the United States. Nat Hum Behav 2023; 7:1442-1453. [PMID: 37264085 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01610-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Although natural disasters are commonplace, they leave in their wake an enormous amount of damage. The physical damage they cause is immediately apparent, but less obvious is the potential magnitude of disruptions to learning and resulting damage to human capital. Using the universe of Presidential Disaster Declarations in the United States, we show that natural disasters impact a region's human capital both via reductions in learning for students who remain in school as well as a reduction in the years of schooling completed. These effects appear to be scarring and persistent. Quantifying these losses using the implied reduction of lifetime earnings suggests that natural disasters reduce a region's human capital by a similar magnitude as the assessed property damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - R Jisung Park
- School of Social Policy and Practice and Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Noghanibehambari H, Salari M, Tavassoli N. Maternal human capital and infants' health outcomes: Evidence from minimum dropout age policies in the US. SSM Popul Health 2022; 19:101163. [PMID: 35855970 PMCID: PMC9287432 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine the causal relationship of maternal education and infants' health outcomes. Using birth certificate data over the years 1970-2004 and exploiting the space-time variation in Minimum Dropout Age laws to solve the endogeneity of education, we find a sizeable effect of mothers' education on their birth outcomes. An additional year of maternal education is associated with a reduction in incidences of low birth weight and preterm birth by 15.2 and 12.7 percent, respectively. The estimates are robust across various specifications and even when allowing mothers' cohort-of-birth to vary across regions. The results suggest that the candidate mechanisms of impact include improvements in timing, quantity, and quality of prenatal care, lower negative health behavior during pregnancy such as smoking and drinking, and higher spousal education.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Noghanibehambari
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Mahmoud Salari
- Department of Accounting, Finance, and Economics, California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, 90747, USA
| | - Nahid Tavassoli
- Department of Economics, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 53211, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
In utero exposure to natural disasters and later-life mortality: Evidence from earthquakes in the early twentieth century. Soc Sci Med 2022; 307:115189. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
9
|
Parayiwa C, Harley D, Clark R, Behie A, Lal A. Association between severe cyclone events and birth outcomes in Queensland, Australia, 2008-2018: a population based retrospective cohort study. Aust N Z J Public Health 2022; 46:835-841. [PMID: 35735907 DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.13273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Investigate an association between severe tropical cyclones (TCs) and birth outcomes in an Australian population. METHODS We analysed over 600,000 singleton livebirths collected through the Queensland Perinatal Data Collection between 2008 and 2018. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) of adverse birth outcomes using logistic multi-level modelling. RESULTS Exposure to TCs in early pregnancy was associated with significantly higher odds of preterm births in affected compared to unaffected areas during the TC year [OR=1.28, 95%CI=1.11, 1.49, p=0.001] and slightly significant higher odds in affected areas during TC years compared to non-TC years. Significantly higher odds of low birthweight births were associated with mid-pregnancy exposure to cyclone Marcia [OR=1.62, 95%CI=1.00, 2.40, p=0.016] . CONCLUSIONS Findings aligned with studies demonstrating an association between exposure to environmental stressors in early to mid-pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH There is limited research into TCs and perinatal health in Australia despite most of the population residing along coastlines and TCs presenting one of the nation's most devastating weather events. This study will inform public health practice and contribute to further research into mitigating environmental risks faced by pregnant women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Parayiwa
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory
| | - David Harley
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland (UQ)
| | - Robert Clark
- Research School of Finance, Actuarial Studies and Statistics, College of Business & Economics, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory
| | - Alison Behie
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory
| | - Aparna Lal
- Research School of Population Health, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH), Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hurricane Michael and Adverse Birth Outcomes in the Florida Panhandle: Analysis of Vital Statistics Data. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2022; 17:e94. [PMID: 35236537 PMCID: PMC9440161 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2021.367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine birth outcomes in areas affected by Hurricane Michael. METHODS Vital statistics data of 2017-2019 were obtained from the state of Florida. Births occurring in the year before and after the date of Hurricane Michael (October 7, 2018) were used. Florida counties were divided into 3 categories reflecting extent of impact from Hurricane Michael. Birth outcomes including incidence of preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA) were also compared before and after Hurricane Michael. Spontaneous and indicated PTBs were distinguished based on previously published algorithms. Multiple regression was used to control for potential confounders. RESULTS Both LBW (aRR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.32) and SGA (aRR 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.21) were higher in the year after Michael than the year before in the most-affected area; a similar effect was not seen in other areas. A stronger effect was seen for exposure in the first trimester or in the 2 months after Michael than in the second or third trimester. CONCLUSION Consistent with many previous studies, this study of Hurricane Michael found an effect on fetal growth.
Collapse
|
11
|
Danagoulian S, Jenkins D. Rolling back the gains: Maternal stress undermines pregnancy health after Flint's water switch. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2021; 30:564-584. [PMID: 33351261 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Environmental disasters impact disadvantaged communities disproportionately both through the epidemiological challenge of exposure, but also by undermining the progress of public health efforts. This paper studies changes to smoking cessation, breastfeeding, and weight gain during pregnancy in the period following the switch in water supply in Flint, Michigan, in April 2014. As the switch resulted in immediate and significant deterioration in water quality, eventually leading to its contamination with lead, we estimate a 10.5 percentage point increase in smoking and a 2.1 percentage point decrease in breastfeeding. We show evidence that these changes in maternal behavior are linked to increased stress due to changing water quality. We estimate that the increase in smoking alone is responsible for most of the increase in incidence of low birthweight among infants in Flint, resulting in $700 additional costs per birth. Increased smoking during pregnancy and lower breastfeeding rates in Flint roll back years of public health efforts, resulting in lifetime higher rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer for mothers in the community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Derek Jenkins
- Department of Economics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gibbs L, Nursey J, Cook J, Ireton G, Alkemade N, Roberts M, Gallagher HC, Bryant R, Block K, Molyneaux R, Forbes D. Delayed Disaster Impacts on Academic Performance of Primary School Children. Child Dev 2019; 90:1402-1412. [PMID: 30675903 PMCID: PMC6790682 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Social disruption caused by natural disasters often interrupts educational opportunities for children. However, little is known about children's learning in the following years. This study examined change in academic scores for children variably exposed to a major bushfire in Australia. Comparisons were made between children attending high, medium, and low disaster-affected primary schools 2-4 years after the disaster (n = 24,642; 9-12 years). The results showed that in reading and numeracy expected gains from Year 3 to Year 5 scores were reduced in schools with higher levels of bushfire impact. The findings highlight the extended period of academic impact and identify important opportunities for intervention in the education system to enable children to achieve their academic potential.
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
Floods are the most common type of natural disaster in both developed and developing countries and have led to extensive morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Worldwide, over the past 30 years, flooding has claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people and affected more than 2.8 billion others. The impact of flooding on health varies among populations and depends primarily on vulnerability and the kind of event experienced. It severely disrupts livelihoods and has a significant impact on the health of pregnant women and children. In addition, it may exacerbate a range of negative psychological and physiological child and reproductive health outcomes. Awareness-raising, education, and the issuing of warnings appear to be key initiatives to mitigate or prevent flood morbidity and mortality, especially among people living in low- and middle-income countries. Agencies responding to emergencies also need to be more cognisant of the dangers, specifically those engaged in healthcare, nutrition, and water safety programmes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lea H Mallett
- Research Scientist, Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health and Children's Environmental Health Sciences Core Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States
| | - Ruth A Etzel
- Professor, Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health and Children's Environmental Health Sciences Core Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Stress and the HPA Axis: Balancing Homeostasis and Fertility. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18102224. [PMID: 29064426 PMCID: PMC5666903 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18102224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
An organism’s reproductive fitness is sensitive to the environment, integrating cues of resource availability, ecological factors, and hazards within its habitat. Events that challenge the environment of an organism activate the central stress response system, which is primarily mediated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The regulatory functions of the HPA axis govern the cardiovascular and metabolic system, immune functions, behavior, and reproduction. Activation of the HPA axis by various stressors primarily inhibits reproductive function and is able to alter fetal development, imparting a biological record of stress experienced in utero. Clinical studies and experimental data indicate that stress signaling can mediate these effects through direct actions in the brain, gonads, and embryonic tissues. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which stress activation of the HPA axis impacts fertility and fetal development.
Collapse
|
15
|
Cai D, Zhu Z, Sun H, Qi Y, Xing L, Zhao X, Wan Q, Su Q, Li H. Maternal PTSD following Exposure to the Wenchuan Earthquake Is Associated with Impaired Mental Development of Children. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0168747. [PMID: 28369095 PMCID: PMC5378320 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore whether earthquake-related maternal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is associated with impaired development of infants. Participants included 86 women who were pregnant during or after the earthquake in Ningqiang county, and their children. Data were collected from February to March of 2012. PTSD questionnaire (PTSD Checklist, Civilian Version (PCL-C)) was used to measure the effect of the earthquake on mothers, and that the scores greater than 50 were used to indicate presence of PTSD. Each child was assessed using the mental Developmental Screening Test (DST) according to age. Among the 86 women, PTSD scores equal to or greater than 50 accounted for 20.93%. Among the 86 children, 25.60% of development quotient (DQ) scores and 19.80% of mental index (MI) scores were less than 85. The correlation coefficient analysis showed that PTSD scores were inversely related to DQ and MI scores. Maternal PTSD following earthquake exposure is associated with relatively lower intellectual development in children age 0–3 years. Further research is needed to assess the persistent effects of this influence on offspring of mothers exposed to earthquake.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongge Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Zhongliang Zhu
- Shaanxi Province Biomedicine Key Laboratory, College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Hongli Sun
- Shaanxi Institute of Pediatric Diseases, Xi’an Children’s Hospital, Shaanxi, P.R. China
| | - Yanhua Qi
- Department of Ultrasound, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Lanying Xing
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Xiaogui Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Qiuyuan Wan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Qian Su
- Department of Neonatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Neonatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Reproductive and Birth Outcomes in Haiti Before and After the 2010 Earthquake. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2015; 10:59-66. [PMID: 26055727 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2015.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the relationship between exposure to the 2010 Haiti earthquake and pregnancy wantedness, interpregnancy interval, and birth weight. METHODS From the nationally representative Haiti 2012 Demographic and Health Survey, information on "size of child at birth" (too small or not) was available for 7280 singleton births in the previous 5 years, whereas information on birth weight was available for 1607 births. Pregnancy wantedness, short (<1 year) interpregnancy interval, and maternal-reported birth weight were compared before and after the earthquake and by level of damage. Multiple logistic regression and linear regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS Post-earthquake births were less likely to be wanted and more likely to be born after a short interpregnancy interval. Earthquake exposure was associated with increased likelihood of a child being born too small: timing of birth (after earthquake vs. before earthquake, adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.45), region (hardest-hit vs. rest of country; aOR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.14- 1.80), and house damage (aOR: 1.27 95% CI: 1.02-1.58). Mean birth weight was 150 to 300 g lower in those exposed to the earthquake. CONCLUSIONS Experience with the earthquake was associated with worse reproductive and birth outcomes, which underscores the need to provide reproductive health services as part of relief efforts.
Collapse
|