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. 2011 Apr 12;11:225. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-225

Table 6.

Associations between maternal educational level and health outcomes (ages 0 to 8), adjusted for biological and lifestyle factors.

Asthma symptoms Poor general health Frequent respiratory infections
Educational levelc Intermediate Low Intermediate Low Intermediate Low

ORa CIb ORa CIb ORa CIb ORa CIb ORa CIb ORa CIb

Model A 1.16 (1.00-1.34) 1.27 (1.08-1.49) 1.11 (0.96-1.27) 1.36 (1.16-1.60) 1.17 (1.02-1.34) 1.57 (1.35-1.83)
Model A + siblings 1.16 (1.00-1.34) 1.26 (1.07-1.48) - - 1.17 (1.02-1.34) 1.56 (1.34-1.82)
Model A + maternal age at birth 1.12 (0.97-1.30) 1.22 (1.03-1.44) 1.02 (0.86-1.17) 1.24 (1.05-1.46) 1.14 (0.99-1.30) 1.51 (1.29-1.78)
Model A + birthweight 1.15 (0.99-1.33) 1.24 (1.05-1.46) 1.10 (0.96-1.26) 1.34 (1.14-1.57) 1.17 (1.02-1.34) 1.55 (1.33-1.81)
Model A + smoking during pregnancyd 1.14 (0.99-1.32) 1.20 (1.02-1.42) 1.09 (0.95-1.26) 1.31 (1.11-1.54) 1.16 (1.01-1.33) 1.51 (1.29-1.76)
Model A + smoking in the homee - - - - - -
Model A + breastfeeding 1.10 (0.95-1.27) 1.16 (0.98-1.37) 1.08 (0.93-1.24) 1.30 (1.09-1.54) 1.12 (0.98-1.28) 1.44 (1.22-1.69)
Model A + day-care centre attendancef - - 1.04 (0.91-1.19) 1.24 (1.05-1.45) - -

Total g,h,1 1.04 (0.90-1.21) 1.04 (0.88-1.24) 0.94 (0.82-1.08) 1.06 (0.90-1.26) 1.06 (0.93-1.22) 1.32 (1.11-1.57)

Overweightl Obesity

Educational levelc Intermediate Low Intermediate Low

ORa CIb ORa CIb ORa CIb ORb CIb

Model A 1.16 (0.96-1.40) 1.42 (1.16-1.73) 1.71 (1.11-2.63) 2.82 (1.80-4.41)
Model A + siblings - - - -
Model A + maternal age at birth - - - -
Model A + birthweight 1.19 (0.99-1.44) 1.50 (1.23-1.82) 1.75 (1.14-2.69) 2.97 (1.91-4.61)
Model A + smoking during pregnancyd 1.15 (0.95-1.39) 1.37 (1.12-1.67) 1.68 (1.10-2.56) 2.55 (1.61-4.02)
Model A + smoking in the homee 1.14 (0.94-1.37) 1.36 (1.11-1.66) 1.61 (1.05-2.46) 2.53 (1.62-3.93)
Model A + breastfeeding - - 1.63 (1.04-2.55) 2.61 (1.64-4.14)
Model A + day-care centre attendancef 1.11 (0.91-1.34) 1.32 (1.07-1.61) 1.52 (1.00-2.32) 2.41 (1.54-3.80)

Totalj,k 1.09 (0.90-1.32) 1.26 (1.02-1.54) 1.42 (0.93-2.18) 2.04 (1.28-3.26)

Note: Model A includes sex of child, age, and maternal educational level

a odds ratio of health, adjusted for sex of the child

b 95% confidence interval of the odds ratio

c highest educational level is reference

d smoking by the mother during at least the first four weeks of pregnancy

e smoking by anyone in the home more than once a week

f < 4 hours per week

g total model for asthma includes siblings, maternal age at birth, birth weight, smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding

h total model for poor general health includes maternal age at birth, birth weight, smoking during pregnancy, breastfeeding and day-care centre attendance

i total model for frequent respiratory infections includes siblings, maternal age at birth, birth weight, smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding

j total model for overweight includes smoking during pregnancy, smoking in the home and day care centre attendance

k total model for obesity includes smoking during pregnancy, smoking in the home, breastfeeding and day-care centre attendance

l overweight includes obesity