Health inequalities: Is the foundation for these laid before the time of birth?

Abstract

Introduction Barker’s original idea of the ‘foetal origins’ of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic lung disease in adulthood relates to foetal under-nutrition in a malnourished mother. There is evidence suggesting that when the foetus receives an inadequate supply of nutrients, its growth is slowed and blood flow is redistributed preferentially towards the brain. It is hypothesised that these adaptions result in reduced weight at birth, and structural or metabolic adaptations that predispose the foetus to disease in adult life (Barker 1991). Lower socio-economic status (SES) is associated with lower birth weight (Pattenden et al. 1999), and it has been suggested that the harmful effects..