Maternal Height and Adverse Health and Nutritional Outcomes in Roma Children in Türkiye

Rengin Aktar, Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies
Ismet Koç, Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies

A growing number of studies show that health and nutrition in early life are effective predictors of mortality and morbidity in adolescence and adulthood. In this study, we focus on intergenerational effects, specifically on maternal height, as one of the pathways that transmit health and mortality risks to the offspring. We use data from a very unique and recent dataset that is nationally representative of the Roma population living in Türkiye, who constitute one of the most marginalized and socio-economically vulnerable groups in the country. Using anthropometric information on 608 children under the age of five born to 471 Roma women, we assess the strength of relations between maternal height, poor birth outcomes, malnutrition and infant mortality with logistic models, controlling for the socio-economic characteristics of parents and households. Our preliminary findings indicate that maternal height is significantly associated with the risk of stunting and small birth size among Roma children, but not with the risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, underweight and infant mortality. The strong relationship between maternal and child heights, in particular, suggests that maternal stature might be one of main intergenerational pathways, laying biological foundations to sustain existing inequalities in health in disadvantaged communities.

Keywords: Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Population and Development

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