Areca Nut Chewing as a Modifiable Risk Factor for Maternal Anemia, Prematurity and Fetal Low Birth Weight: A Cross Sectional Study in Teluk Wondama, West Papua.

6 , 10 In a large cohort of Taiwanese aboriginal women (n: 1264), maternal betel quid chewing during pregnancy was associated with lower mean birth weight (−89.5 gr) and shorter birth length (−0.43 cm) and with higher odds of low birth weight (adjusted OR 2.40: 95% CI 1.21–4.80) and term low birth weight (AOR 3.67: 95% CI 1.70–7.96), preterm birth was more frequent among chewers (11.4% vs 8.3%) although this difference did not reach statistical significance and an adjusted estimate was not reported. 19 , 20 In Madang province, Papua New Guinea, areca chewing in pregnancy was near universal (94%) and heavy chewing was linked with a 238 gr reduction in birthweight, suggesting potential nutritional and haematologic pathways of harm during gestation. 4 Ch

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