PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS AND SMALL-FOR-GESTATIONAL-AGE INFANTS AMONG PAROUS SCANDINAVIAN WOMEN

Background. We wanted to analyze the association between small-for-ges tational-age (SGA) births, defined as a newborn with a birthweight bel ow the 15th percentile-for-gestational age, and socioeconomic and psyc hosocial risk factors. Methods. Information on social background, psyc hological status, and life events was collected prospectively by use o f questionnaires in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. The r espondents were 1552 women who expected their second or third child an d took part in a Scandinavian multicenter study of fetal growth and pe rinatal outcome. Results. No significant differences were found in rel ational stress, state and trait anxiety, depression, and physical stra in between SGA and non-SGA births, whereas smoking around time of conc eption and low prepregnant body mass were significant SGA birth predic tors. Maternal and paternal education of nine years or less increased the SGA birth risk (RR 1.46 (95% CL 1.12; 1.92) and RR 1.34 (95% CL 1. 01; 1.79), respectively. The increased risk from a low maternal educat ion was still significant when body mass and low paternal education we re controlled, but not after adjustment for maternal smoking. A protec tive effect of paternal, but not maternal, education of 12 years or mo re was also observed and retained its effect when maternal smoking and body mass were controlled.Conclusion. In this seemingly homogeneous S candinavian population, parental education and maternal body proportio n and life style influenced the prevalence of small-for-gestational-ag e births. Relational stress, anxiety depression, and physical strain d id not influence birth outcome.