Perinatal outcomes and newborn head circumference and birth weight in residents near soybean fields of Alto Parana, Paraguay

ABSTRACT

Genotoxicity effects have been reported in children residing less than 1 km from a soybean crop in one department of Paraguay. This study aimed to compare the perinatal outcomes and the newborn´s anthropometry between pregnant women residing less than 1 km from a soy field (exposed) and those residing in urban areas in Alto Paraná. We performed an observational, prospective multicentre study, including 471 pregnant women and their newborns, 219 exposed and 252 urbans. The odds of complications during childbirth were lower in the exposed group (OR 0.46 95% CI 0.24–0.94). The newborns of exposed women had lower head circumference (OR 4.69 95% CI 2,32–9.48), and lower low birth weight (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.08, 0.92). These findings suggest that residence within 1 km of a soybean field is associated with lower HC in newborns and lower chances of childbirth complications, and low birth weight.

KEYWORDS:

• Perinatal outcomes
• newborns
• head circumference
• pesticides

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the management and staff of the Regional Hospital and the District hospitals of the Department of Alto Parana, for their cooperation during the study; and also the Editor Dr Michael Brett-Crowther for his careful attention throughout. This study won a grant (14 INV 156) from the National Commission of Sciences and Technology of Paraguay (CONACYT), but because of administrative barriers with the Ministry of Health of Paraguay, the disbursement was not made. Therefore, the first author assumed the costs of the study.

Authors’ contribution

Conception, study design, analysis and interpretation, final approval: MNMR.

Study design, analysis and interpretation, critical review, final approval: MSA, WMOF.

Analysis and interpretation, critical review, final approval: ACV.

Study design, acquisition of data, critical review, final approval: LEGS, OCS.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).