Maternal Factors and Childhood Asthma: Implications for Public Health Strategies

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disorder in childhood that poses significant public health concerns due to its prolonged and inflammation-related nature. Understanding the maternal risk factors that contribute to the development of asthma in early childhood is crucial for effective prevention and management. 

Papandreou D. et al. recently assessed the potential impacts of various maternal factors, including sociodemographic, anthropometric, prenatal, and perinatal factors, on the prevalence of asthma in preschool children.

They analyzed data from 5133 women and their matched preschool children and found a prevalence of 4.5% of childhood asthma in preschool children. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, they identified several maternal factors significantly associated with childhood asthma, like Maternal age, pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity, cesarean section delivery, gestational diabetes, hypertension, and lack of breastfeeding.

These results underscore the importance of addressing maternal factors as part of comprehensive public health strategies to reduce childhood asthma's prevalence. 

Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the association between maternal factors and childhood asthma in preschool age. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive approaches that address the identified risk factors. By implementing suitable health policies and strategies, we can effectively confront the maternal factors contributing to childhood asthma's prevalence. Ultimately, this will improve respiratory health outcomes in preschool children and better overall public health.

Papandreou D, Pavlidou E, Tyrovolas S, Mantzorou M, Andreou E, Psara E, Antasouras G, Vasios GK, Poulios E, Giaginis C. Relation of Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Factors and Childhood Asthma: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Preschool Children Aged 2–5 Years Old. Medicina. 2023; 59(1):179. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59010179