Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39917859›Full record

ArticleThe Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology2025

Does Maternal Location of Residence Affect Low Birth Weight Outcomes in Hunter New England Local Health District?

Polly R Britten, Darcy L McNaughton, Samantha L Moore, Shelby A Edwards, Leanne J Brown, Natasha Weaver, Tracy L Schumacher

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In one paragraph

Article in The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Polly R BrittenJoint Medical Program, University of Newcastle and University of New England, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.
Darcy L McNaughtonJoint Medical Program, University of Newcastle and University of New England, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.
Samantha L MooreJoint Medical Program, University of Newcastle and University of New England, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.
Shelby A EdwardsJoint Medical Program, University of Newcastle and University of New England, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.
Leanne J BrownDepartment of Rural Health, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-4340-2320
Natasha WeaverSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9640-1647
Tracy L SchumacherDepartment of Rural Health, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-3541-6036

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLow birth weight (LBW) is associated with adverse short-term and long-term health outcomes for neonates. The impact of maternal geographical location on rates of LBW in Australia is conflicted in existing literature.

aimsThe aim was to identify if a difference in rates of LBW exist between neonates born to rural versus metropolitan maternal residence. Secondary aim was to identify any associated factors influencing LBW. MATERIALS AND

methodsA secondary data analysis of retrospective health surveillance data from all births from 2018 to 2022 in the Hunter New England Local Health District (New South Wales, Australia) was performed. Logistic regression was used to determine odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio of LBW for rural versus metropolitan residence.

resultsA total of 39,579 neonates were included in this analysis, with 50.9% of the maternal cohort residing rurally. Median maternal was age 29.2 years. Rates of LBW were higher in rural maternal residence (5.7%) compared to metropolitan residence (5.2%). Odds of neonatal LBW did not differ between rural and maternal metropolitan residence after adjusting for confounders (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 0.90, 95% CI 0.79-1.01, p = 0.07). Socioeconomic disadvantage was significantly identified as an issue associated with LBW.

conclusionsLBW neonates were more likely to be born to rural maternal residence and LBW risk factors disproportionately affected those living in rural locations. To reduce LBW in neonates, it is imperative that access to safe and affordable healthcare is available, and resources addressing LBW risk factors are specific to geographical locations.

Indexed as

Infant, Low Birth WeightResidence CharacteristicsRural PopulationUrban PopulationAdultFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornMaleNew South WalesPregnancyRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsSocioeconomic FactorsYoung Adultinfantlow birth weightobstetricsrural populationsocioeconomic factorsurban population

Identifiers

PMID39917859
PMCPMC12723086

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.