Neighbourhood greenness and birth outcomes in a Swedish birth cohort – A short communication. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eriksson, Charlotta; Lind, Tomas; Ekström, Sandra; Gruzieva, Olena; Georgelis, Antonios; Bergström, Anna; Lõhmus, Mare
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 57(2019:May)
• Page Start: 200
• Page End: 203
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Urban greenness -- Birthweight -- Birth outcomes -- Small-for-gestational-age; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.04.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: The present study investigated whether associations between greenness and birth outcomes can be detected in children belonging to a Swedish birth cohort (BAMSE). Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within a 500 m buffer zone around maternal address was used as estimate of greenness. Ordinary least squares and quantile regression models were performed to investigate associations between neighbourhood NDVI and birthweight (n = 2619), birth length (n = 2490) and head circumference (n = 2243). Logistic regression analyses were used to detect the association between NDVI and odds of being born as "small-" or "large-for-gestational-age". There were no clear associations between NDVI and birth weight in the total sample. However, in a suburban sub-sample, increased NDVI levels were significantly associated with elevated birthweight of small new-borns (β2nd percentile = 276 g, 95% CI 61 to 492, p = 0.012), and significantly reduced the odds ratio (OR) for children being born as small-for-gestational-age (OR = 0.31 95% CI 0.1 to 1, p = 0.049). No significant associations were found between NDVI and birth length or head circumference. In conclusion, neighbourhood greenness appears not to be associated with birthweight as such, but rather decrease the odds of being born underweight, in particular in suburban areas. Highlights: Urban greenness may decrease the odds of being born underweight. Residential area type was a significant effect modifier of the association. No associations with infant birth length or head circumference were found.