International Journal of Public Health (Feb 2024)

Small for Gestational Age Newborns in French Guiana: The Importance of Health Insurance for Prevention

  • Lindsay Osei,
  • Lindsay Osei,
  • Lindsay Osei,
  • Nicolas Vignier,
  • Nicolas Vignier,
  • Nicolas Vignier,
  • Mathieu Nacher,
  • Juliette Laumonnier,
  • Claude Conan,
  • Loreinzia Clarke,
  • Akoï Koivogui,
  • Sabrina Covis,
  • Luciano Valony,
  • Célia Basurko,
  • Solène Wiedner-Papin,
  • Alain Prual,
  • Thierry Cardoso,
  • Malika Leneuve-Dorilas,
  • Malika Leneuve-Dorilas,
  • Leslie Alcouffe,
  • Leslie Alcouffe,
  • Najeh Hcini,
  • Stéphanie Bernard,
  • Tiphanie Succo,
  • Françoise Vendittelli,
  • Françoise Vendittelli,
  • Narcisse Elenga

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2024.1606423
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 69

Abstract

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Objectives: Small for gestational age (SGA) newborns have a higher risk of poor outcomes. French Guiana (FG) is a territory in South America with poor living conditions. The objectives of this study were to describe risk factors associated with SGA newborns in FG.Methods: We used the birth cohort that compiles data from all pregnancies that ended in FG from 2013 to 2021. We analysed data of newborns born after 22 weeks of gestation and/or weighing more than 500 g and their mothers.Results: 67,962 newborns were included. SGA newborns represented 11.7% of all newborns. Lack of health insurance was associated with SGA newborns (p < 0.001) whereas no difference was found between different types of health insurance and the proportion of SGA newborns (p = 0.86). Mothers aged less than 20 years (aOR = 1.65 [1.55–1.77]), from Haiti (aOR = 1.24 [1.11–1.39]) or Guyana (aOR = 1.30 [1.01–1.68]) and lack of health insurance (aOR = 1.24 [1.10–1.40]) were associated with SGA newborns.Conclusion: Immigration and precariousness appear to be determinants of SGA newborns in FG. Other studies are needed to refine these results.

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