Association between social environment and birth weight during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Brazilian metropolis.

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the association between social environment factors and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic context on birth weight.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study, nested in a cohort. Conducted in the first three months of the pandemic, in three public maternity hospitals in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A sample of 1,684 postpartum women was included. Multinomial logistic regression was applied for the analysis.

RESULTS

Physical inactivity during pregnancy increased the chance of low birth weight (RP = 3.84; 95%CI: 1.11-13.21; p: 0.033). Environmental variables such as the number of families earning up to half a minimum wage (RP = 1.00; 95%CI: 1.00-1.00; p: <0.001) and per capita income (RP= 1.01; 95%CI: 1.00-1.02; p: 0.002) showed statistically significant associations with low birth weight.

CONCLUSION

The findings show that both individual and contextual determinants directly influenced birth weight during the pandemic, reinforcing the need for actions that integrate obstetric care and social policies aimed at reducing inequalities.