What does our follow-up consist of? What stages does our follow-up involve?
Women who meet the above inclusion criteria are invited by the gynaecologists of the Hospital de Poniente to join the GENEIDA cohort at the first visit of the Andalusian Public Health System’s pregnancy follow-up programme (12-14 weeks pregnant). These women are subsequently followed up by the study research team in each trimester of pregnancy. At each of these follow-up visits, information is collected on the evolution of the pregnancy from the ultrasound scans, as well as data on environmental and occupational exposures, lifestyles, diet, etc. Biological samples of blood, urine, hair, nails and faeces are also taken. At the time of delivery, placenta and umbilical cord blood samples are taken, as well as anthropometric measurements of the newborn. The next follow-up visits of the children take place at 12 and 24 months, and at 4 years of age, when they are evaluated by paediatricians and psychologists in order to assess their physical and psychological development.
Follow-up of the 800 pregnant women in the GENEIDA cohort has taken place between April 2014 and November 2017. Follow-up of children aged 12, 24, 48 months is currently underway, with more than 600, 400 and 200 children assessed at these ages, respectively. The follow-up process for 8-year-olds started in October 2022.