ASSOCIATION OF MATERNAL WORKING STATUS WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD OVERWEIGHT IN BRAZIL
The number of working mothers is increasing and recent research has shown an association between maternal work and children’s body mass index (BMI) in high income nations. We examined the relationship between maternal working status and child overweight in an emerging economy nation using a representative sample of the Brazilian population.
METHODS:
4.148 mothers and their singleton children under 5, from the last Brazilian DHS from 2006. Maternal work was defined when the woman declared to work apart from the domestic chores. Overweight (including obesity) was defined by the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs using body mass index-for age (BAZ) z-scores. We estimated OR and 95% CI using logistic regression models.
RESULTS:
Maternal and children’s mean age was 27 and 2 years, respectively. Children’s mean BAZ was 0.50. Prevalence of working mothers was 40.6% and children’s overweight/obesity 7.3%. Women working apart from domestic chores were associated with children’s increased BAZ (>+2SD). Thus, the offspring from working mothers had 64% more chance of being overweight/obese when compared to non-working mothers (OR=1.64; 95% CI 1.12 – 2.40). This result remained significant after adjusting for household income, maternal BMI, maternal education, maternal age, and children’s age (OR=1.58; 95% CI 1.04 – 2.49).
CONCLUSIONS:
Like in the high income nations, the working status of Brazilian women also showed an important impact on children’s nutrition health, contributing somehow with childhood obesity.