The First United Arab Emirates National Representative Birth Cohort Study

In this study, a multidisciplinary team of researchers was established including credible researchers from the UAE, Australia and the United Kingdom to launch the First United Arab Emirates 3-year birth cohort study. The study aims to recruit 250 pregnant Emirati women within their first trimester, which is defined by the study as from 8 to 12 weeks pregnant, recruited from obstetric and gynaecology clinics in the UAE. Participants will be recruited via face to face interviews and will receive a total of 11 visits with 1 visit in each trimester of pregnancy and 8 visits after delivery. Maternal data collection includes, socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, physical activity, maternal psychological state, and blood samples for biochemical analysis. Post-partum, visits will take place when the child is 0.5, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months old, with data collection including infant anthropometric measurements, young child feeding practices, dietary intake, supplement use and the eating environment at home, as well as all maternal data collection described above, apart from blood samples. Additional data collection for the child includes developmental assessments taking place at three timepoints, 1) within 2 weeks of birth, 2) at 10-14 months and 3) at 22 - 26 months of age. Developmental assessments for the infant include vision, health, neurological examination, neurodevelopmental and sleep assessments.