Effects of maternal nutritional status and food situation on birth weight in displaced North Korean children

Abstract

Adequate nutrition and food situation during the pregnancy are important for healthy pregnancy outcomes such as birth weight. The aim of this study was to assess effects of maternal nutritional status (height, pre‐pregnancy weight, pre‐pregnancy BMI, and self‐reported body type) and food situation on birth weight of children born to North Korean parents, and currently living in South Korea. After IRB approval, North Korean children (6–18yr) were recruited through schools and local centers. A pre‐tested questionnaire was used to collect birth weight, nutritional status of mother, and food situation (Household Food Insecurity Access Scale Score) at birth, supplemented by an interview.. Birth weight was positively associated with being male (â=0.435, p‐value=0.001), higher maternal height (â=0.033, p‐value=0.026), secure food situation (â=0.273, p‐value=0.043) and with smaller maternal body type (â=−1.154, p‐value=0.016). Maternal weight and BMI had no statistically significant associations with birth weight, while maternal height was most significant. Maternal chronic nutritional status was more important on birth weight than food situation at birth in our sample. This work was supported by National Research Foundation of Korea Grant.