Relationship between low birth weight and the mother’s origin in areas with use of pesticide in the province of Salta

Abstract

Introduction: Literature relates reproductive disorders to population exposed to pesticides due to environmental or work reasons. Among others, a relationship to low birth weight (LBW) has been established.

Objective: To compare and analyze birth weights in areas with intensive use of pesticides and in the rest of the province.

Material and Methods: A temporal series was analyzed between 1995 and 2008. By the year 2010, 8588 deliveries had been analyzed at the capital hospital. Descriptive measures and statistical tests were calculated with InfoStat v. 2008.

Results: the rate of newborns with low birth weight ranged between 3.5 (1994) and 6.5% (1996) in Anta; and between 5.4% (2003) and 7.4% (2007) in Orán. For the rest of the province it ranged between 6.4% (1995) and 8.5% (2007). When analyzing the series, no significant differences in the proportion of low birth weight in exposed areas were observed when compared to the rest of the province of Salta. However, the mother’s origin was significantly associated (x2= 63.52; p<0.0001) with low birth rates when all deliveries were analyzed at the capital hospital. Confidence interval for odds ratio with ?=0.05 was (1.69-2.39). There is a double chance of low birth weight when mothers live in areas where pesticides are used.

Discussion: from the series of rates of newborns with low birth weight it is seen that they have been lower in areas exposed to pesticides than in the rest of the province, with prevalence under 0.08. This can be understood as a sub-record of low weight due to referral of risk pregnancies to the capital hospital. The study of environmental burden in risk pregnancies has to continue.