Maternal physical, socioeconomic, and demographic characteristics and childbirth complications in rural lowland Nepal: Applying an evolutionary framework to understand the role of phenotypic plasticity.

At the individual level, the risk childbirth complications is shaped by trade-offs between fertility, growth, and survival. Some biological markers of disadvantage (early childbearing, short stature) increased the risk, whereas low socio-economic status was associated with lower risk, indicating reduced access to relevant facilities. Independent of these associations, maternal age showed complex effects.