Household Renovations before and during Pregnancy Are Associated with Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight in China: A Multicenter, Retrospective, and Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Few studies have investigated the associations between early household environmental exposures and adverse birth outcomes. Here we analyzed associations of household renovation in the year before pregnancy and during pregnancy with preterm birth (PTB, gestational age <37 weeks) and low birth weight (LBW, birth weight <2500 g).Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted for children from eight large cities of China (Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Changsha, Wuhan, Chongqing, Urumqi, and Taiyuan) during 2010-2012. Parents responded to questions about household renovation and their child’s gestational age and birth weight. Multiple regression and two-level (city-child) mixed-effect logistic regression analyses were preformed to investigate the target associations.Results: A total of 35,807 subjects were analyzed. Herein 16.9% and 4.5% subjects had household renovation in the year before pregnancy and during pregnancy, respectively. A total of 4.1% and 2.6% children were PTB and LBW, respectively. In the multiple logistic regression analyses, household renovation in the year before pregnancy was significantly associated with LBW (adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals: 1.23, 1.01-1.50; p-value=0.036). Household renovation during pregnancy was significantly associated with PTB (1.28, 1.01-1.69; 0.048). Similar associations were found in the two-level logistic regression analyses.Conclusions: Household renovation before pregnancy could be a risk factor for LBW, while household renovation during pregnancy could be a risk factor for PTB. Avoidance of early household renovation would be an effective intervention to reduce adverse birth outcomes.