Date of Award
2007
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Supervisor
Dr. M. Karen Campbell
Second Advisor
Dr. Victor Han
Third Advisor
Dr. Bin Xie
Abstract
Background: Small for Gestational Age (SGA) confers increased risk to the infant, and causal pathways are poorly understood. Objective: To develop and test a conceptual model for SGA, allowing us to distinguish causal pathways. Methods: This investigation used data on 2356 women from the “Prenatal Health Project” cohort. Associations between prenatal variables and SGA, both severe (<3rd percentile) and moderate (3rd-10 percentile) were investigated using multinomial logistic regression models. Variables were entered according to our conceptual framework. Variable entry that attenuated beta values by >10% indicated these variables might act along the same pathway. Results: The final models illustrated multiple pathways associated with SGA. Different pathways were associated with moderate or severe SGA. Smoking and preeclampsia related to separate pathways both associated with severe SGA. Gestational hypertension was associated with moderate SGA, possibly working through low placental weight. Conclusions: These results illustrated differing causal pathways, and suggest different underlying biological mechanisms.
Recommended Citation
Cartier, Shannon E., "Causal Pathways for Small for Gestational Age Birth" (2007). Digitized Theses. 4716.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4716