The First United Arab Emirates National Representative Birth Cohort Study: Study Protocol

Frontiers in Pediatrics

Ayesha Salem Al Dhaheri¹  Sharon Mutare³  Habiba I. Ali³  Abdullah Shehab³  Howaida Khair³  Samer Kharroubi⁴  Nahla Hwalla⁴  Jack Feehan⁵  Lily Stojanovska⁵  Michelle Fernandes⁷  Leila Cheikh Ismail⁸  Raghib Ali⁹  Andrew P. Hills^1,10 

[1] Reproductive Health, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom;Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates;Department of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates;Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon;Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia;MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre and Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom;;Nuffield Department of Women’s &Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom;Public Health Research Centre, New York University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates;School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS, Australia;

关键词: nutrition;    pregnancy;    feeding practices;    development;    United Arab Emirates;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fped.2022.857034

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn recent years, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has escalated. Evidence suggests that there are strong associations between nutrition in early life and the risk of disease in adulthood. This manuscript describes the study protocol of the First United Arab Emirates National Representative Birth Cohort Study (UAE-BCS), with the objective of investigating nutrition and lifestyle factors in the first 1,000 days of life. The main aims of the study are (1) to address critical issues relating to mother and child nutrition and their effect on growth and development, (2) to profile maternal nutrition, child growth, health, and development outcomes in early life, and (3) to study the associations between these factors among the Emirati population in the UAE.Methods/DesignIn this study, a multidisciplinary team of researchers was established including credible researchers from the UAE, Lebanon, Australia, and the United Kingdom to launch the First United Arab Emirates 3-year birth cohort study. We aim to recruit 260 pregnant Emirati women within their first trimester, which is defined by the study as from 8 to 12 weeks pregnant, from obstetrics and gynecology clinics in the UAE. Participants will be recruited via face-to-face interviews and will receive a total of 11 visits with 1 visit in each trimester of pregnancy and 8 visits after delivery. Maternal data collection includes, socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, physical activity, maternal psychological state, and blood samples for biochemical analysis. Post-partum, visits will take place when the child is 0.5, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months old, with data collection including infant anthropometric measurements, young child feeding practices, dietary intake, supplement use and the eating environment at home, as well as all maternal data collection described above, apart from blood samples. Additional data collection for the child includes early child developmental assessments taking place at three timepoints: (1) within 2 weeks of birth, (2) at 10–14 months and (3) at 22–26 months of age. Early child developmental assessments for the infant include vision, hearing, cognition, motor skills, social-emotional reactivity, neurodevelopmental, and sleep assessments.DiscussionThe United Arab Emirates Birth Cohort study protocol provides a standardized model of data collection methods for collaboration among the multisectoral teams within the United Arab Emirates to enrich the quality and research efficiency in early nutrition, thereby enhancing the health of mothers, infants, and children.

【 授权许可】

Unknown