Early Tracking of Childhood Health Determinants Study

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how various factors during pregnancy and early childhood affect the growth and development of children from birth through adulthood. This research focuses on American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic pregnant women and their children, examining how maternal health, lifestyle, and environment impact risks like obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver. The study aims to understand connections between maternal conditions and child health outcomes over time. Pregnant women will have three visits during pregnancy, and mothers and children will have multiple visits throughout early childhood up to age 18. Mothers may provide samples like blood, stool, breastmilk, urine, cord blood, and placenta, and both mothers and children will undergo physical exams, ultrasounds, and possibly use activity monitors. Medical records will also be reviewed to gather comprehensive health data. Participants will be followed closely with scheduled visits during pregnancy and at specific intervals through the child's development, including frequent visits in the first two years and annual visits thereafter until age 18. Researchers will measure outcomes such as infant and child BMI, biochemical markers, stool microbiome, and neurocognitive development. The study involves questionnaires, physical exams, sample collections, and ongoing health monitoring for both mother and child over many years.

Early Tracking of Childhood Health Determinants (ETCHED) Study