Peer-reviewed article
National, longitudinal NASCITA birth cohort study to investigate the health of Italian children and potential influencing factors
Chiara Pandolfini, Antonio Clavenna, Massimo Cartabia, Rita Campi, Maurizio Rippa Bonati ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001NASCITA is a national Italian birth cohort study following over 5,000 newborns from 2019 onwards to track their physical, cognitive and psychological development up to age 6. The study examines how social and health factors, including nurturing care, influence child health outcomes. Early findings show significant geographical differences across Italy in maternal characteristics, pregnancy behaviours, and infant feeding practices, with notable north-south disparities.
Key points
- 5,054 newborns enrolled through 139 family paediatricians across Italy with baseline data collection from April 2019 to July 2020
- Mothers were highly educated (84.2% with high school or university degrees) and mostly employed (69.7%), with mean age 33 years
- Low folic acid supplementation (36.1%) and maternal smoking/alcohol use (6.5% and 10.0% respectively) during pregnancy
- 63.6% of infants were exclusively breastfed at 1 month, with significant north-to-south decline in prevalence
- Significant north-south geographical disparities found across all measured areas including parental education, pregnancy behaviours, and hospital practices
Limitations
This is a descriptive baseline report of a longitudinal study in progress; it does not yet evaluate the impact of specific interventions on child health outcomes. The findings are specific to Italy and may not be generalizable to other countries.
Abstract
Purpose The NASCITA Study, a national-level, population-based, prospective cohort study, was set up to better understand the early health status of Italian children, comprising their physical, cognitive and psychological development, and how it is affected by social and health determinants, including nurturing care. NASCITA will also assess geographical differences and disparities in healthcare. Participants Participating family paediatricians from throughout Italy enrolled infants born during the enrolment period (April 2019–July 2020). The 5054 newborns seen by the 139 paediatricians for at least two visits, including the first well-child visit, and for whom parental consent was given, make up the baseline population. Findings to date Mothers had a mean age at delivery of 33.0 years and tended to have a high or medium level of education (42.5% university and 41.7% high school degrees) and to be employed (69.7%). One-third (36.1%) took folic acid supplementation appropriately, and 6.5% smoked or consumed alcohol (10.0%) during pregnancy. One-third (31.7%) of deliveries were caesarean deliveries. Concerning the newborns, 5.8% had a low birth weight and 6.2% were born prematurely. The majority (87.7%) slept in the supine position, and 63.6% were exclusively breast fed at 1 month, with a decreasing north to south prevalence (χ 2 t 52; p<0.001). Significant north–south differences were found in all areas, including parental education, behaviours in pregnancy and hospital practices. When compared with national level data, the cohort population’s distribution, maternal sociodemographic characteristics and newborn physical characteristics reflect those of the Italian population. Future plans Data will continue to be collected during the well-child visits until the children are 6 years old, and multiple health outcomes will be studied, spanning child development and illness, as well as potentially related factors including caregiving routines. The findings will be used to develop specific interventions to improve children’s health. Trial registration number NCT03894566 .