National, longitudinal NASCITA birth cohort study to investigate the health of Italian children and potential influencing factors

Abstract

PurposeThe NASCITA Study, a national-level, population-based, prospective cohort study, was set up to better understand the early health status of Italian children, comprising their physical, cognitive and psychological development, and how it is affected by social and health determinants, including nurturing care. NASCITA will also assess geographical differences and disparities in healthcare.ParticipantsParticipating family paediatricians from throughout Italy enrolled infants born during the enrolment period (April 2019–July 2020). The 5054 newborns seen by the 139 paediatricians for at least two visits, including the first well-child visit, and for whom parental consent was given, make up the baseline population.Findings to dateMothers had a mean age at delivery of 33.0 years and tended to have a high or medium level of education (42.5% university and 41.7% high school degrees) and to be employed (69.7%). One-third (36.1%) took folic acid supplementation appropriately, and 6.5% smoked or consumed alcohol (10.0%) during pregnancy. One-third (31.7%) of deliveries were caesarean deliveries. Concerning the newborns, 5.8% had a low birth weight and 6.2% were born prematurely. The majority (87.7%) slept in the supine position, and 63.6% were exclusively breast fed at 1 month, with a decreasing north to south prevalence (χ2t52; p<0.001). Significant north–south differences were found in all areas, including parental education, behaviours in pregnancy and hospital practices. When compared with national level data, the cohort population’s distribution, maternal sociodemographic characteristics and newborn physical characteristics reflect those of the Italian population.Future plansData will continue to be collected during the well-child visits until the children are 6 years old, and multiple health outcomes will be studied, spanning child development and illness, as well as potentially related factors including caregiving routines. The findings will be used to develop specific interventions to improve children’s health.Trial registration numberNCT03894566.

Parental practices that influence children’s development: how often are they implemented and by whom. Results from the NASCITA Birth Cohort study

“…Furthermore, the cohort population of newborns is representative of the national newborn population in terms of geographical distribution and characteristics. [9] There are a few limitations of this study. Firstly, the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with data collection.…”

“…We used the NASCITA Cohort, [8,9] a population-based, prospective study that collects information on a cohort of 5054 newborns and their families from birth through the preschool age throughout Italy, to assess adherence to the parental practices. Enrollment has been described elsewhere.…”

Pediatrician and parental evaluation of child neurodevelopment at 2 years of age

“…The Laboratory of Epidemiology of Developing Age of the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS in Milan set up the NASCITA Birth Cohort in collaboration with the National Pediatric Cultural Association (ACP). The methods of the NASCITA study and the baseline cohort characteristics have been described elsewhere [ 29 , 30 ]. Briefly, all Italian children receive primary health care from a FP until they are six years old as part of the national health system’s organization.…”

Pediatrician and parental evaluation of child neurodevelopment at 2 years of age

“…The methods of the NASCITA study and the baseline cohort characteristics have been described elsewhere. [22,23] Brie y, all Italian children receive primary health care from a FP until they are six years old as part of the national health system's organization. The population consists of infants born during the enrollment period (April 1st, 2019-July 31st, 2020) and seen by the pediatricians for seven well-child visits (within 45 days of life, at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 72 months) to monitor growth and development.…”