Risk factors for term small for gestational age infants in women with low prepregnancy body mass index.

AIM: The purpose of our study was to investigate the association between low maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) less than 18.5 kg/m(2) and the incidence of small for gestational age (SGA) infants. MATERIAL & METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. The women with BMI of less than 25.0 kg/m(2) who gave birth to single term infants (37-42 weeks) at clinics and hospitals in the Tokyo metropolitan area between 2003 and 2004 were analyzed for risk factors for SGA. RESULTS: Five hundred and seventy-two women were underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m(2)) and 2708 (75.1%) were normal (18.5

Dietary folate intake during pregnancy and birth weight in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate folate status has been associated with many negative reproductive outcomes, such as neural tube defects (NTD), low birth weight and placental abruption. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the levels of dietary folate intake during pregnancy in Japanese women and the subsequent birth weight of their babies. METHODS: A longitudinal prospective study was conducted with 197 women with a singleton pregnancy in 2005. Dietary folate was investigated 3 times: in the first trimester at 12 weeks, in the second trimester at 20 weeks and in third trimester at 32 weeks using a diet history questionnaire (DHQ). Non fasting blood samples were collected from the women for measurement of homocysteine, hemoglobin, ferritin, unbound iron-binding capacity (UIBC) and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). RESULTS: Energy intake increased as pregnancy advanced, but not significantly. The daily intake of folate increased from 248.5 +/- 113.1 microg/d in the first trimester to 275.4 +/- 100.2 microg/d in the third trimester (P = 0.04). This was well below the recommended level of 440 microg/d and only 10% of mothers were above the levels. In the third trimester, plasma homocysteine concentration was significantly higher in the low folate group of less than 250 microg/d (P = 0.02), but not the first and second trimesters. Dietary folate intake and plasma homocysteine concentrations were not likely to be predictors of birth weight in our subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that Japanese women's energy and folate intakes do not meet their energy needs during pregnancy and are at an extremely low recommended dietary allowance level throughout pregnancy.

Experience of sexual violence among sexually experienced Japanese teenage girls and influencing factors.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to identify influencing factors for sexual violence in sexually experienced teenage girls. Methods: Eighty sexually experienced teenage girls aged between 14 and 19 attending obstetrics and gynecology clinics in suburban Tokyo were selected as subjects. After completing a simple questionnaire on sexual behavior and lifestyle the subjects were interviewed using a semistructured interview technique. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with sexual violence. Results: Police and government statistics for rape, sexual and domestic violence in Japan are extremely low. However, the present study showed that 52.5% of subjects had been victims of sexual violence. Furthermore, of these, 69.0% had been forced to have sex with a partner and 64.3% had been raped by someone other than a partner. Factors influencing the risk of sexual violence were sexual behavior and attitudes towards sexuality and lifestyle. Having a sexually transmitted infection was not an influencing factor. Conclusions: It is important to identify teenage girls attending obstetrics and gynecology clinics at risk of sexual violence and to teach them about the risks of sexual behavior associated with imbalances of power. Furthermore, it is essential to support victims of sexual violence to protect them from the recurrence of such abuse. (Reprod Med Biol 2008; 7: 181-187).