Immigrant ancestry and birthweight across two generations born in Sweden : An intergenerational cohort study
(2022) In BMJ Global Health 7(4).- Abstract
Introduction Differences in birthweight are often seen between migrants and natives. However, whether migrant-native birthweight inequalities widen, narrow or remain persistent across generations when comparing the descendants of immigrants and natives remains understudied. We examined inequalities in birthweight of mothers (G2) and daughters (G3) of foreign-born grandmothers (G1) compared with those of Swedish-born grandmothers. Methods We used population registers with multigenerational linkages to identify 314 415 daughters born in Sweden during the period 1989-2012 (G3), linked to 246 642 mothers (G2) born in Sweden during 1973-1996, and to their grandmothers (G1) who were Swedish or foreign-born. We classified migrants into... (More)
Introduction Differences in birthweight are often seen between migrants and natives. However, whether migrant-native birthweight inequalities widen, narrow or remain persistent across generations when comparing the descendants of immigrants and natives remains understudied. We examined inequalities in birthweight of mothers (G2) and daughters (G3) of foreign-born grandmothers (G1) compared with those of Swedish-born grandmothers. Methods We used population registers with multigenerational linkages to identify 314 415 daughters born in Sweden during the period 1989-2012 (G3), linked to 246 642 mothers (G2) born in Sweden during 1973-1996, and to their grandmothers (G1) who were Swedish or foreign-born. We classified migrants into non-western, Eastern European, the rest of Nordic and Western. We used multivariable methods to examine mean birthweight and low birthweight (<2500 g; LBW). Results Birthweight between individuals with Swedish background (G1) and non-western groups increased from -80 g to -147 g between G2 (mothers) and G3 (daughters), respectively. Furthermore, the odds of LBW increased among the G3 non-western immigrants compared with those with Swedish grandmothers (OR: 1.38, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.69). Birthweight increased in both descendants of Swedes and non-western immigrants, but less so in the latter (83 g vs 16 g). Conclusion We observed an increase in birthweight inequalities across generations between descendants of non-western immigrants and descendants of Swedes. This finding is puzzling considering Sweden has been lauded for its humanitarian approach to migration, for being one of the most egalitarian countries in the world and providing universal access to healthcare and education.
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- author
- Aradhya, Siddartha LU ; Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal and Juárez, Sol P. LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-04-25
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- cohort study, epidemiology, nutrition, public health
- in
- BMJ Global Health
- volume
- 7
- issue
- 4
- article number
- e007341
- publisher
- BMJ Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85130873760
- pmid:35470131
- ISSN
- 2059-7908
- DOI
- 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007341
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Funding Information: Contributors SA conceived the original idea for the study and analysed the data. SA and SPJ contributed on equal terms to the study design, literature search, interpretation of the findings, visualisation and writing (original draft, review & editing). SVK made relevant intellectual contributions to the literature review, interpretation of the findings and to the final manuscript. SA and SPJ have verified the underlying data. All authors have contributed with intellectual content and approved the final version of the manuscript for submission. SA and SPJ are the guarantors. Funding SA has been supported by SIMSAM Lund Research Program (VR number 2013-32038-99687-157), the Swedish Research Council (VR number 2020-01285), and The Baltic Sea Foundation (S1-20-0052). SJ has been supported by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, (FORTE number 2016-07128, number 2021-00271) and the Swedish Research Council (VR number 2018-01825). SVK acknowledges funding from a NRS Senior Clinical Fellowship (SCAF/15/02), the Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00022/2) and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (SPHSU17). Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022.
- id
- 1df74459-fb55-48a3-9ff7-e6eb77314f24
- date added to LUP
- 2022-12-30 13:03:06
- date last changed
- 2024-04-15 00:15:09
@article{1df74459-fb55-48a3-9ff7-e6eb77314f24,
abstract = {{<p>Introduction Differences in birthweight are often seen between migrants and natives. However, whether migrant-native birthweight inequalities widen, narrow or remain persistent across generations when comparing the descendants of immigrants and natives remains understudied. We examined inequalities in birthweight of mothers (G2) and daughters (G3) of foreign-born grandmothers (G1) compared with those of Swedish-born grandmothers. Methods We used population registers with multigenerational linkages to identify 314 415 daughters born in Sweden during the period 1989-2012 (G3), linked to 246 642 mothers (G2) born in Sweden during 1973-1996, and to their grandmothers (G1) who were Swedish or foreign-born. We classified migrants into non-western, Eastern European, the rest of Nordic and Western. We used multivariable methods to examine mean birthweight and low birthweight (<2500 g; LBW). Results Birthweight between individuals with Swedish background (G1) and non-western groups increased from -80 g to -147 g between G2 (mothers) and G3 (daughters), respectively. Furthermore, the odds of LBW increased among the G3 non-western immigrants compared with those with Swedish grandmothers (OR: 1.38, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.69). Birthweight increased in both descendants of Swedes and non-western immigrants, but less so in the latter (83 g vs 16 g). Conclusion We observed an increase in birthweight inequalities across generations between descendants of non-western immigrants and descendants of Swedes. This finding is puzzling considering Sweden has been lauded for its humanitarian approach to migration, for being one of the most egalitarian countries in the world and providing universal access to healthcare and education.</p>}},
author = {{Aradhya, Siddartha and Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal and Juárez, Sol P.}},
issn = {{2059-7908}},
keywords = {{cohort study; epidemiology; nutrition; public health}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{04}},
number = {{4}},
publisher = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
series = {{BMJ Global Health}},
title = {{Immigrant ancestry and birthweight across two generations born in Sweden : An intergenerational cohort study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007341}},
doi = {{10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007341}},
volume = {{7}},
year = {{2022}},
}