Association Between Household and Maternal Socioeconomic Factors with Birth Outcomes in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa: A Comparative Study.

Objective: To assess and compare the associations between household socioeconomic (SES) factors with birth outcomes (low birth weight (LBW), small-for-gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth (PTB)) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africa (SA).

Methods: Cross-sectional data of mother-newborn pairs collected in 2017 in the DRC were compared with mother-newborn pairs data from the SA Soweto first 1000-days pregnancy cohort study (2013-2016). Country-specific and pooled multivariable logistic regressions analyses assessed the associations between maternal education, marital status, and housing with LBW, SGA, and PTB adjusted for maternal anthropometry and obstetric factors.

The association between household socio-economic status, maternal socio-demographic characteristics and adverse birth and infant growth outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.

Adverse birth outcomes and infant undernutrition remain the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Impaired infant growth and development, which often begins during foetal development, may persist during the first 2 years of life and has been associated with higher risks of cardiometabolic diseases. This systematic review assessed the associations between maternal demographic characteristics and household socio-economic status (SES), and preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age, low birth weight (LBW), stunting, wasting and underweight in children under 2 years of age in SSA countries.