Correlation of parity and maternal weight during pregnancy with low birth weight: An observational study

Abstract

Background: The present study was conducted for evaluating correlation of parity and maternal weight during pregnancy with low birth weight.
Materials & methods:A total of 100 pregnant subjects were enrolled in the present study. Inclusion criteria for the present study included pregnant women with first visit in less than 13 weeks, Term pregnancy i.e. between 37 weeks to 40 weeks and maternal age between 18-35 years. Maternal anthropometric measurements such as post pregnancy weight, height, mid-arm circumference and triceps skin fold thickness were recorded at the time of enrolment following stabilization (within 24 hours of delivery) at hospital using standard techniques. Maternal mid-arm circumference was measured using non-stretchable fibre tape. Mother’s triceps skin fold thickness was measured using Lange skin fold caliper and body mass index was calculated using the formula, weight in kg divided by the square of height in meters. Data was studied in Excel sheet and analysis was done using SPSS ver. 15.0 for windows one way
ANOVA was carried out to find impact of maternal factors.
Results: In our study out of 100 mothers 16% had weight gain less than 7 kg and out of them 88% delivered LBW babies. 64% women gained weight between 7-9 kg and out of them only 23% delivered LBW babies. A significant association was found between maternal pre partum body weight and low birth weight of baby. The incidence of LBW babies was maximum in females having weight less than 40 kg (90%) and least in females having weight more than 60 kg(00%).
Conclusion: The low birth weight was found to be high (46%) compared to national average of 21.5%. this could be because present study was carried out in tertiary care hospitals where many of the pregnant women’s are referred from the peripheral centres’ for of high risk pregnancy.