ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2014
Seasonality of birth outcomes in rural Sarlahi District, Nepal: a population-based prospective cohort.
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Association between season and pregnancy outcomes in fresh embryo transfer cycles: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- Comparison of pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in a retrospective full pregnancy history survey versus population-based prospective records: a validation study in rural Sarlahi District, Nepal.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2023Trial
- Impact of Improved Biomass and Liquid Petroleum Gas Stoves on Birth Outcomes in Rural Nepal: Results of 2 Randomized Trials.Global health, science and practice · 2020Trial
- Secular trend, seasonality and effects of a community-based intervention on neonatal mortality: follow-up of a cluster-randomised trial in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam.Journal of epidemiology and community health · 2018Trial
- Designs of two randomized, community-based trials to assess the impact of alternative cookstove installation on respiratory illness among young children and reproductive outcomes in rural Nepal.BMC public health · 2014Trial
- Seasonal patterns of preterm birth in the Netherlands: A population-based cohort study.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2025Article
- The association between timing in pregnancy of drought and excess rainfall, infant sex, and birthweight: Evidence from Nepal.Environmental epidemiology (Philadelphia, Pa.) · 2023Article
- Scale-Up of a Newborn Resuscitation Capacity-Building and Skill Retention Program Associated With Improved Neonatal Outcomes in Gandaki Province, Nepal.Global health, science and practice · 2023Article
- Effects of seasonal variations and meteorological factors on IVF pregnancy outcomes: a cohort study from Henan Province, China.Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E · 2022Article
- Gender, nutritional disparities, and child survival in Nepal.BMC nutrition · 2022Article
- Associations between early marriage and preterm delivery: Evidence from lowland Nepal.American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council · 2022Article
- Identification of factors associated with stillbirth in Zimbabwe - a cross sectional study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2021Article
- Seasonal variability does not impact in vitro fertilization success.Scientific reports · 2019Article
- Adverse birth outcomes in Guangdong province, China, 2014-2017: a spatiotemporal analysis of 2.9 million births.BMJ open · 2019Article
- Seasonality of antenatal care attendance, maternal dietary intake, and fetal growth in the VHEMBE birth cohort, South Africa.PloS one · 2019Article
- Risks and seasonal pattern for mortality among hospitalized infants in a conflict-affected area of Pakistan, 2013-2016. A retrospective chart review.F1000Research · 2019Article
- Human Metapneumovirus and Other Respiratory Viral Infections during Pregnancy and Birth, Nepal.Emerging infectious diseases · 2017Article
- Febrile Rhinovirus Illness During Pregnancy Is Associated With Low Birth Weight in Nepal.Open forum infectious diseases · 2017Article
- Linear trends and seasonality of births and perinatal outcomes in Upper East Region, Ghana from 2010 to 2014.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2016Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundWhile seasonality of birth outcomes has been documented in a variety of settings, data from rural South Asia are lacking. We report a descriptive study of the seasonality of prematurity, low birth weight, small for gestational age, neonatal deaths, and stillbirths in the plains of Nepal.
methodsUsing data collected prospectively during a randomized controlled trial of neonatal skin and umbilical cord cleansing with chlorhexidine, we analyzed a cohort of 23,662 babies born between September 2002 and January 2006. Project workers collected data on birth outcomes at the infant's household. Supplemental data from other studies conducted at the same field site are presented to provide context. 95% confidence intervals were constructed around monthly estimates to examine statistical significance of findings.
resultsMonth of birth was associated with higher risk for adverse outcomes (neonatal mortality, low birthweight, preterm, and small for gestational age), even when controlling for maternal characteristics. Infants had 87% (95% CI: 27 - 176%) increased risk of neonatal mortality when born in August, the high point, versus March, the low point.
conclusionSeasonality of neonatal deaths, stillbirths, birth weight, gestational age, and small for gestational age were found in Nepal. Maternal factors, meteorological conditions, infectious diseases, and nutritional status may be associated with these adverse birth outcomes. Further research is needed to understand the causal mechanisms that explain the seasonality of adverse birth outcomes.
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