Birth Weight in the Daasanach Community of Northern Kenya and the Effect of Multiparity.

Pregnancy is physiologically demanding and may have long-term effects on mothers, yet the effects of prior pregnancies on pregnancy outcomes are not well understood, particularly among non-industrialized subsistence populations. This research explores the effect of parity on birth weight and risk of low birth weight (LBW, < 2500 g) within the Daasanach, a subsistence population in Kenya, and compares data to the United States.This study examined delivery records collected from 2011 to 2022 at the Illeret Health Clinic (n = 111) in Marsabit County, Kenya, which provides maternal medical services to Daasanach communities, and a sample from the CDC's US National Vital Statistics System (n = 3 127 176). Birth weight differences and LBW unadjusted odds ratios were calculated between primiparous, low multiparous, and grand multiparous groups.No significant effect of parity on birth weight was found in the Daasanach sample, but mean birth weight was lower than the U.S. (difference = 337 g, SE = 43.6 g, p < 0.05) and incidence of LBW was higher (difference = 6.22%, 95% CI = 0.45%-12.0%, p < 0.05). US records showed decreased risk of LBW between primiparity and low multiparity, and increased risk between low multiparity and grand multiparity (p < 0.05), while Daasanach data showed a non-significant contrary trend for the latter.Findings highlight the impact of the energetic demands and environments associated with subsistence populations on birth outcomes. Furthermore, results suggest differing effects of parity on birth weight in subsistence populations, particularly in grand multiparity.

Duke Scholars

Author Herman Pontzer Evolutionary Anthropology