Association of Mercury Exposure and Maternal Sociodemographics on Birth Outcomes of Indigenous and Tribal Women in Suriname

Bibliographic Data

ID15504168
AuthorsGaitree Baldewsingh (0000-0001-7430-1576, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, corresponding author), Ashna D Hindori‐Mohangoo (0000-0003-2364-2893, Tulane University), Edward D van Eer (Medical Mission Primary Health Care Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname), Hannah H Covert (0000-0001-9483-8557, Tulane University), Arti Shankar (0009-0009-4942-967X, Tulane University), Jeffrey K Wickliffe (0000-0002-6216-9894, Tulane University), Lizheng Shi (0000-0002-7827-6766, Tulane University), Maureen Y Lichtveld (0000-0001-9264-883X, Tulane University), Wilco Zijlmans (0000-0002-4080-3858, Tulane University)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue12
Pages6370-6370
Publication date2021-06-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18126370
PMID34204640
OpenAlexW3169717706
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited53

Information regarding adverse birth outcomes (ABO) of Indigenous and Tribal women living in the remote tropical rainforest of Suriname, where mercury (Hg) use is abundant in artisanal gold mining, is not available. In the context of a health system analysis, we examined the association between Hg exposure, maternal sociodemographics on the ABO of Indigenous and Tribal women living in Suriname's interior and its capital, Paramaribo. ABO were determined in pregnant women enrolled from December 2016 to July 2019 in the Caribbean Consortium for Environmental and Occupational Health prospective environmental epidemiologic cohort study. Associations were explored using Pearson's χ 2 -test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. Among 351 singleton participants, 32% were Indigenous, residing mainly in the interior (86.8%), and 23.1% had ABO. Indigenous participants had higher rates of ABO (29.8% vs. 19.8%) and preterm birth (PTB) (21.2% vs. 12.4%), higher Hg levels, delivered at a younger age, were less educated, and had lower household income compared to Tribal participants. Multivariate logistic regression models revealed that Indigenous participants had higher odds of ABO (OR = 3.60; 95% CI 1.70-7.63) and PTB (OR = 3.43; 95% CI 1.48-7.96) compared with Tribal participants, independent of Hg exposure and age at delivery. These results highlight the importance of effective risk reduction measures in support of Indigenous mothers, families, and communities

ABO blood group system · Biology · Environmental health · Geography · Indigenous · Logistic regression · Odds ratio · Sociology · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity · Medicine · Mercury impact and mitigation studies · Ecology