IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i8p2949-d350099.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Associations between Green and Blue Spaces and Birth Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Selin Akaraci

    (Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), School of Health and Society, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

  • Xiaoqi Feng

    (Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), School of Health and Society, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
    School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
    Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
    National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Beijing 102206, China)

  • Thomas Suesse

    (NIASRA, National Institute for Applied Statistics Research Australia School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

  • Bin Jalaludin

    (Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2170, Australia)

  • Thomas Astell-Burt

    (Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), School of Health and Society, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
    Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
    National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Beijing 102206, China
    School of Public Health, Peking Union Medical College and The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China)

Abstract

Previous studies suggest that green and blue spaces may promote several health outcomes including birth outcomes. However, no synthesis of previous work has specifically asked policy-relevant questions of how much and what type is needed in every neighborhood to elicit these benefits at the population level. A systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted to synthesize thirty-seven studies on the association between residential green and blue spaces and pregnancy outcomes. Meta-analyses were performed for birth weight (BW), small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB). Increase in residential greenness was statistically significantly associated with higher BW [β = 0.001, 95%CI: (<0.001, 0.002)] and lower odds of SGA [OR = 0.95, 95%CI: (0.92, 0.97)]. Associations between green space and LBW and PTB were as hypothesized but not statistically significant. Associations between blue spaces and pregnancy outcomes were not evident. No study explicitly examined questions of threshold, though some evidence of nonlinearity indicated that moderate amounts of green space may support more favorable pregnancy outcomes. Policy-relevant green and blue space exposures involving theory-driven thresholds warrant testing to ensure future investments in urban greening promote healthier pregnancy outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Selin Akaraci & Xiaoqi Feng & Thomas Suesse & Bin Jalaludin & Thomas Astell-Burt, 2020. "A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Associations between Green and Blue Spaces and Birth Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-20, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:8:p:2949-:d:350099
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/8/2949/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/8/2949/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kirsten M. M. Beyer & Andrea Kaltenbach & Aniko Szabo & Sandra Bogar & F. Javier Nieto & Kristen M. Malecki, 2014. "Exposure to Neighborhood Green Space and Mental Health: Evidence from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Mireia Gascon & Margarita Triguero-Mas & David Martínez & Payam Dadvand & Joan Forns & Antoni Plasència & Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen, 2015. "Mental Health Benefits of Long-Term Exposure to Residential Green and Blue Spaces: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-26, April.
    3. Lopez, R., 2004. "Urban sprawl and risk for being overweight or obese," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(9), pages 1574-1579.
    4. Jan K. Brueckner, 2000. "Urban Sprawl: Diagnosis and Remedies," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 23(2), pages 160-171, April.
    5. Kelvin C. Fong & Itai Kloog & Brent A. Coull & Petros Koutrakis & Francine Laden & Joel D. Schwartz & Peter James, 2018. "Residential Greenness and Birthweight in the State of Massachusetts, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Tashi Dendup & Xiaoqi Feng & Stephanie Clingan & Thomas Astell-Burt, 2018. "Environmental Risk Factors for Developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-25, January.
    7. Joan A. Casey & Peter James & Kara E. Rudolph & Chih-Da Wu & Brian S. Schwartz, 2016. "Greenness and Birth Outcomes in a Range of Pennsylvania Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, March.
    8. Bell, Sarah L. & Phoenix, Cassandra & Lovell, Rebecca & Wheeler, Benedict W., 2015. "Seeking everyday wellbeing: The coast as a therapeutic landscape," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 56-67.
    9. Vikram Nichani & Kim Dirks & Bruce Burns & Amy Bird & Cameron Grant, 2017. "Green Space and Depression during Pregnancy: Results from the Growing Up in New Zealand Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, September.
    10. Kathryn Abelt & Sara McLafferty, 2017. "Green Streets: Urban Green and Birth Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu & Gizachew Assefa Tessema & Ben Mullins & Bernard Kumi-Boateng & Michelle Lee Bell & Gavin Pereira, 2020. "Ambient Air Pollution, Extreme Temperatures and Birth Outcomes: A Protocol for an Umbrella Review, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Marcia P. Jimenez & Nicole V. DeVille & Elise G. Elliott & Jessica E. Schiff & Grete E. Wilt & Jaime E. Hart & Peter James, 2021. "Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Thomas Astell-Burt & Phi-Yen Nguyen & Juan Zhang & Yu Jiang & Guang-Hui Dong & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space and Health in Mainland China: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-22, September.
    4. Rachel L. Peters & Suzanne Mavoa & Jennifer J. Koplin, 2022. "An Overview of Environmental Risk Factors for Food Allergy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-12, January.
    5. Phi-Yen Nguyen & Thomas Astell-Burt & Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-38, October.
    6. Shengyu Guan & Shuang Liu & Xin Zhang & Xinlei Du & Zhifang Lv & Haihui Hu, 2023. "Analysis of Supply–Demand Relationship of Cooling Capacity of Blue–Green Landscape under the Direction of Mitigating Urban Heat Island," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-22, July.
    7. Alessandro Rigolon & Matthew H. E. M. Browning & Olivia McAnirlin & Hyunseo (Violet) Yoon, 2021. "Green Space and Health Equity: A Systematic Review on the Potential of Green Space to Reduce Health Disparities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-27, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alessandro Rigolon & Matthew H. E. M. Browning & Olivia McAnirlin & Hyunseo (Violet) Yoon, 2021. "Green Space and Health Equity: A Systematic Review on the Potential of Green Space to Reduce Health Disparities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-27, March.
    2. Hector A. Olvera-Alvarez & Matthew H. E. M. Browning & Andreas M. Neophytou & Gregory N. Bratman, 2021. "Associations of Residential Brownness and Greenness with Fasting Glucose in Young Healthy Adults Living in the Desert," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Liqing Zhang & Puay Yok Tan, 2019. "Associations between Urban Green Spaces and Health are Dependent on the Analytical Scale and How Urban Green Spaces are Measured," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Kathryn Abelt & Sara McLafferty, 2017. "Green Streets: Urban Green and Birth Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Charlotte Wendelboe-Nelson & Sarah Kelly & Marion Kennedy & John W. Cherrie, 2019. "A Scoping Review Mapping Research on Green Space and Associated Mental Health Benefits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-49, June.
    6. Colleen E. Reid & Jane E. Clougherty & Jessie L.C. Shmool & Laura D. Kubzansky, 2017. "Is All Urban Green Space the Same? A Comparison of the Health Benefits of Trees and Grass in New York City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, November.
    7. Qiang Wen & Haiqiang Liu & Jinyuan Chen & Huiyao Ye & Zeyu Pan, 2023. "Evaluation of Satisfaction with the Built Environment of University Buildings under the Epidemic and Its Impact on Student Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-23, February.
    8. Brueckner, Jan K. & Largey, Ann G., 2008. "Social interaction and urban sprawl," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 18-34, July.
    9. Yijun Zhang & Suzanne Mavoa & Jinfeng Zhao & Deborah Raphael & Melody Smith, 2020. "The Association between Green Space and Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-26, September.
    10. Hyeonjin Song & Kevin James Lane & Honghyok Kim & Hyomi Kim & Garam Byun & Minh Le & Yongsoo Choi & Chan Ryul Park & Jong-Tae Lee, 2019. "Association between Urban Greenness and Depressive Symptoms: Evaluation of Greenness Using Various Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
    11. De Vos, Jonas & Witlox, Frank, 2013. "Transportation policy as spatial planning tool; reducing urban sprawl by increasing travel costs and clustering infrastructure and public transportation," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 117-125.
    12. Xindi Zhang & Yixin Zhang & Jun Zhai & Yongfa Wu & Anyuan Mao, 2021. "Waterscapes for Promoting Mental Health in the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    13. Susan L. Prescott & Alan C. Logan, 2016. "Transforming Life: A Broad View of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Concept from an Ecological Justice Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-44, November.
    14. Phoebe R. Maund & Katherine N. Irvine & Jonathan Reeves & Emily Strong & Ruth Cromie & Martin Dallimer & Zoe G. Davies, 2019. "Wetlands for Wellbeing: Piloting a Nature-Based Health Intervention for the Management of Anxiety and Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-17, November.
    15. Xialu Wu & Yu-Sheng Shen & Shenghui Cui, 2023. "Global Trends in Green Space and Senior Mental Health Studies: Bibliometric Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-12, January.
    16. Kathleen L. Wolf & Sharon T. Lam & Jennifer K. McKeen & Gregory R.A. Richardson & Matilda van den Bosch & Adrina C. Bardekjian, 2020. "Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-30, June.
    17. Kelvin C. Fong & Itai Kloog & Brent A. Coull & Petros Koutrakis & Francine Laden & Joel D. Schwartz & Peter James, 2018. "Residential Greenness and Birthweight in the State of Massachusetts, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, June.
    18. Argyro Anna Kanelli & Maria Lydia Vardaka & Chrisovaladis Malesios & Zainab Jamidu Katima & Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, 2024. "Can Campus Green Spaces Be Restorative? A Case Study from Tanzania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, January.
    19. Tadeusz Ciupa & Roman Suligowski, 2021. "Green-Blue Spaces and Population Density versus COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-17, June.
    20. Cristina Casajuana Kögel & Tània Rodríguez Peña & Isabel Sánchez & Montserrat Tobella & José Alonso López & Fernando Girón Espot & Francesc Pedrol Claramunt & Gemma Rabal & Angelina González Viana, 2020. "Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of a Fluvial Environment Recovery Project in a Medium-Sized Spanish Town," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-16, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:8:p:2949-:d:350099. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.