Do mothers living in greener neighbourhoods have healthier babies?

Richardson, Elizabeth

doi:10.1136/oemed-2014-102163

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Only one study [63] revealed that roadside trees can buffer the adverse effects of traffic related air pollution on the odds of TLBW. Other studies did not observe a modification effect by air pollution [10,39,47,57,61,67,70,75] or noise pollution [51].…”

Section: Pathways and Effect Modifiersmentioning

confidence: 89%

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Associations between Green and Blue Spaces and Birth Outcomes

Akaraci

Feng

Suesse

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Previous studies suggest that green and blue spaces may promote several health outcomes including birth outcomes. However, no synthesis of previous work has specifically asked policy-relevant questions of how much and what type is needed in every neighborhood to elicit these benefits at the population level. A systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted to synthesize thirty-seven studies on the association between residential green and blue spaces and pregnancy outcomes. Meta-analyses were performed for birth weight (BW), small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB). Increase in residential greenness was statistically significantly associated with higher BW [β = 0.001, 95%CI: (<0.001, 0.002)] and lower odds of SGA [OR = 0.95, 95%CI: (0.92, 0.97)]. Associations between green space and LBW and PTB were as hypothesized but not statistically significant. Associations between blue spaces and pregnancy outcomes were not evident. No study explicitly examined questions of threshold, though some evidence of nonlinearity indicated that moderate amounts of green space may support more favorable pregnancy outcomes. Policy-relevant green and blue space exposures involving theory-driven thresholds warrant testing to ensure future investments in urban greening promote healthier pregnancy outcomes.

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Section: Pathways and Effect Modifiersmentioning

confidence: 89%

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Associations between Green and Blue Spaces and Birth Outcomes

Akaraci

Feng

Suesse

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Neighborhood levels of economic deprivation and greenness had independent effects on infant mortality, with greater deprivation and less greenness each increasing mortality risks. Although the causes of these beneficial effects of greenery on neonatal survival and weight are not known, Richardson (2014) noted that there may be direct effects through passive exposure, as green buffers are associated with less air pollution, noise and lower temperatures, and indirect effects through healthy behaviors in the form of more physical activity outdoors and more social contacts. All of these factors would predict reduced maternal stress during pregnancy.…”

Section: Physical Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benefits of Nature Contact for Children

Chawla

2015

Journal of Planning Literature

532

275

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This review examines different ways that contact with nature can contribute to the health and well-being of children. Applying the capabilities approach to human development for a broad definition of well-being, it traces research from the 1970s to the present, following shifting research approaches that investigate different dimensions of health. A compelling body of evidence exists that trees and natural areas are essential elements of healthy communities for children. They need to be integrated at multiple scales, from landscaping around homes, schools, and childcare centers, to linked systems of urban trails, greenways, parks, and “rough ground” for children’s creative play.

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“… 7 Increased risk of low birthweight has also been linked to physical environmental factors including noise, 8 air pollution, 9 traffic exposures 10 and the natural environment or ‘green space’. 11 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A sibling study of whether maternal exposure to different types of natural space is related to birthweight

Richardson

Shortt

Mitchell

et al. 2017

International Journal of Epidemiology

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BackgroundBirthweight is an important determinant of health across the life course. Maternal exposure to natural space has been linked to higher birthweight, but stronger evidence of a causal link is needed. We use a quasi-experimental sibling study design to investigate if change in the mother’s exposure to natural space between births was related to birthweight, in urban Scotland.MethodsAmount (% area) of total natural space, total accessible (public) natural space, parks, woodlands and open water within 100 m of the mother’s postcode was calculated for eligible births (n = 40 194; 1991–2010) in the Scottish Longitudinal Study (a semi-random 5.3% sample of the Scottish population). Associations between natural space and birthweight were estimated, using ordinary least squares and fixed effects models.ResultsBirthweight was associated with the total amount of natural space around the mother’s home (+8.2 g for interquartile range increase), but was unrelated to specific types of natural space. This whole-sample relationship disappeared in the sibling analysis, indicating residual confounding. The sibling models showed effects for total natural space with births to women who already had children (+20.1 g), and to those with an intermediate level of education (+14.1 g).ConclusionsThe importance of total natural space for birthweight suggests that benefits can be experienced near to as well as within natural space. Ensuring expectant mothers have good access to high quality neighbourhood natural space has the potential to improve the infant’s start in life, and consequently their health trajectory over the life course.

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Do mothers living in greener neighbourhoods have healthier babies?

Cited by 6 publications

References 13 publications

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Associations between Green and Blue Spaces and Birth Outcomes

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Associations between Green and Blue Spaces and Birth Outcomes

Benefits of Nature Contact for Children

A sibling study of whether maternal exposure to different types of natural space is related to birthweight

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