Maternal PM2.5 exposure and preterm birth in Bangladesh: A nationwide cross-sectional analysis
Discuss this preprint
Start a discussion What are Sciety discussions?Listed in
This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.Abstract
Background Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) can affect fetal health via maternal pathways during pregnancy. Pregnant women are among the most vulnerable populations to PM 2.5 exposure worldwide. Although the impacts of maternal PM 2.5 exposure on preterm birth (PTB) have been widely studied globally, epidemiological evidence specific to Bangladesh is lacking. Therefore, we assessed the associations between maternal PM 2.5 exposure and PTB risk across different pregnancy periods in Bangladesh. Methods We used Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data to conduct this cross-sectional study in Bangladesh. A total of 8,059 births occurring between 2017 and 2022 were included, along with their sociodemographic information. The monthly PM 2.5 concentrations were estimated using satellite-based models linked to each cluster’s global position system (GPS) location. We constructed exposure-specific multivariable logistic regression models to assess the association between maternal PM 2.5 exposure and PTB risk. Results During the birth period (2017–2022), the average PM 2.5 concentration was 67.9 µg/m³. According to the fully adjusted models, a 10 µg/m³ increase in PM 2.5 was significantly associated with PTB risk during the complete pregnancy period (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04–1.23), preconception (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00–1.07), and third trimester (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01–1.09). The association was particularly strong in rural areas (OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.17–1.45). The probability curve indicated a nonlinear increase in the PTB probability with increasing PM 2.5 concentration, with a predicted probability of 6% at the lowest exposure level to 14% at concentrations above 100 µg/m³. Conclusion Our study revealed a significant association between maternal PM 2.5 exposure and increased odds of PTB. These findings highlight the need for targeted specific interventions to reduce air pollution to protect vulnerable populations.
