Objective To determine the prevalence and the risk factors for childhood obesity in Changsha and Shenzhen, China.Methods A case-control study was conducted in 209 obese children (the cases) identified in the investigation on childhood obesity in 6 288 children aged 6 to 9 years in Changsha and Shenzhen in China and 209 children with normal weight (the controls). The cases and controls were matched by gender, age, and school. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the risk factors were measured.Results The prevalence rate of overweight and obese children was 9.28% and 3.30% in Changsha, and 12.17% and 4.22% in Shenzhen, respectively. The rate of overweight children is significantly higher in Shenzhen than in Changsha. No statistical difference was observed in the rate of obesity between the children in both cities. Paternal obesity (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.16), maternal weight gain during pregnancy ≥15.0 kg (OR 5.22, 95% CI 2.78 to 9.80), birth weight ≥4.00 kg (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.24 to 5.26), unhealthy snacks ≥1 per week (OR 3.94, 95% CI 1.11 to 13.99), and watching television ≥2 hours per day(OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.01 to 5.47) were associated with childhood obesity when potential confounding factors were adjusted by multi-variable logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Paternal obesity, gestational weight gain, high birth weight, and unhealthy life-style are important risk factors for obesity in urban children in south China.

OBJECTIVE: A proportion of elective repeated cesarean sections where a trial of labor in a uterus with a previous scar was not attempted is on the increase. This study aimed to assess how reduced the use of trial of labor has impacted on neonatal outcomes in the United States. METHODS: Pregnant women with one previous cesarean delivery and a singleton live birth of the index pregnancy were abstracted from the 1995 to 2002 birth registration data of the United States. Adjusted odds ratios for adverse neonatal outcomes of trial of labor were estimated by multiple logistic regression models, in overall study subjects and in the two periods with high and low rates of trial of labor. RESULTS: A total of 1833407 eligible subjects were included in the analysis. Rate of trial of labor after one previous cesarean section dropped from 38.5% in 1995 to 15.0% in 2002. No significant change was observed in the patient population profile. Successful vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) also declined from 76.6% in 1995 to 66.0% in 2002. A trial of labor after one previous cesarean section was correlated with increased risks of asphyxia-related neonatal death and neonatal morbidity. This risk was even more pronounced in low risk women and in the last study years with the lowest rate of trial of labor. CONCLUSION The reduced use of trial of labor after one cesarean delivery in recent years in the United States has actually resulted in increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor.
Adult ; Asphyxia Neonatorum ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Cesarean Section, Repeat ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Trial of Labor ; United States ; epidemiology ; Vaginal Birth after Cesarean ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: It is uncertain whether preeclampsia (PE) is caused by pre-existing factors or by pregnancy itself. We want to answer this important question in public health by conducting a large pre-conception cohort in China. METHODS: A prospective and pre-conception cohort study with a target recruitment of 5000 couples who plan to have a baby within 6 months was performed and their conception, delivery, and postpartum were followed up in Liuyang county, Hunan Province of P. R. China. RESULTS: A total of 1915 young couples have been recruited into this unique pre-conception cohort till now. In general, both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure decreased in early second trimester from pre-conception level but increased in third trimester and at delivery. CONCLUSION The proposed pre-conception cohort study will have important theoretical and practical implications on the prevention of PE and its associated cardiovascular disease risks.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Pre-Eclampsia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the pre-conception factors for intrauterine growth retardation. METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted in a cohort of 1368 women from 14 Child and Maternity Health Care Departments by cluster sampling method in Liuyang City, Hunan Province. Following-up until delivery, we collected their medical records and maternal health care manual materials. All neonates with intrauterine growth retardation were detected in the follow-up (the case group) and another 186 neonates without intrauterine growth retardation, matched with gender and mother's age, were randomly selected from the cohort as controls. χ2 test and multiple conditional logistic regression were used to investigate the determinants of intrauterine growth retardation. RESULTS: Intrauterine growth retardation was associated with BMI (OR=64.775), waist circumference (OR=0.166), abortion (OR=6.997), level of total cholesterol (OR=0.045), folic acid (OR=0.077), and cortisol (OR=9.164). CONCLUSION Intrauterine growth retardation is associated with BMI, waist circumference, abortion,level of total cholesterol, folic acid, and cortisol. Effective measures to reduce intrauterine growth retardation in children include strengthening the detection of pre-pregnancy blood biochemical indicators to guide health care during pregnancy, and increasing nutrition during pregnancy according to pre-pregnancy BMI and waist circumference.
Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence and to discuss the risk factors of premature birth in rural areas of Liuyang. METHODS: We collected subjects from villages and towns in Liuyang through cluster sampling method. Before enrolling in this cohort, all of them had established health records from January 2010 to December 2011. We followed up the early, middle and late stages of pregnancy until delivery, and collected medical records and maternal health care manual of this cohort as our data materials. We explored the main influence factors of premature delivery by χ2 test and unconditional logistic regression analysis for single factor and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Among 6270 women who enrolled in our cohort, 259 were diagnosed as premature birth. The incidence (4.13%) was lower than the national average level. Non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors of premature birth were as follows: OR of placental abruption was 7.678 (95% CI: 2.249-26.215), that of premature rupture of fetal membranes (PROM) was 5.177 (95% CI: 3.945-6.793), that of uterine abnormal and deformity was 2.675 (95% CI: 1.007-7.107), that of placenta anomaly was 2.633 (95% CI: 1.666-4.162), that of hypertension in pregnancy was 2.172 (95% CI: 1.044-4.521), that of pregnancy complications was 1.806 (95% CI: 1.033-3.157), that of male fetus was 1.429 (95% CI: 1.086-1.881). Protective factors of preterm birth were too frequent prenatal examination (OR=0.502, 95% CI: 1.033-3.157) and single pregnancy (OR=0.155, 95% CI: 0.075-0.319). CONCLUSION Preterm delivery is caused by complicated factors, such as placental abruption, PROM and male fetus. Comprehensive measures should be taken to reduce preterm birth.
Abruptio Placentae ; etiology ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture ; etiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Sampling Studies ; Young Adult