Revealing the risk factors:
For Dr. Linda Dodds, finding risk factors that can lead to serious problems for mothers and babies is just the first step. She explores these factors in depth, laying the groundwork for changes in medical practice and public policy to reduce pregnancy- and birth-related risks.
Since joining Dalhousie’s Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit in 1999, Dr. Dodds has been examining the effects of ‘in utero’ environmental exposures on fetuses and newborns. Her studies of chlorination by-products in municipal water supplies have provided new evidence for policy makers charged with revising national standards. “We found higher rates of stillbirths in women who were exposed to higher levels of chlorination by-products during pregnancy,” notes Dr. Dodds. Another study found higher rates of birth defects in babies whose mothers live near the Sydney Tar Ponds.
Dr. Dodds is also investigating risk factors for pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy condition involving high blood pressure and other problems. “Pre-eclampsia can affect the arteries carrying blood to the placenta,” she explains. “This can be dangerous for the babies, causing slow growth or low birth weight. The only known cure is delivery, so often babies are delivered well before term.”
Events in pregnancy, delivery and the newborn period can have long-term consequences for children and mothers. After learning that epilepsy is more likely associated with prenatal factors than a difficult labour or delivery, Dr. Dodds is now working with Autism Research Chair Dr. Susan Bryson to explore possible triggers of autism. In mothers, she has found that having gestational diabetes dramatically increases future risk of developing type 2 diabetes. She is currently looking into the impact of maternal age, breastfeeding and other factors on breast cancer risk.
Past work with Dalhousie colleague Dr. K.S. Joseph showed that lower socioeconomic status is linked to higher rates of pregnancy, birth and neonatal complications.
« Back to DMRF Award of Excellence for Research in Health Law/Bioethics/Medical Informatics/Population Health/Medical Education/ or Medical Humanities