Fetal Malnutrition and Associated Factors among Term Newborn Babies at Birth in South Gondar Zone Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background. Undernutrition contributes to almost half of all under-five deaths. Fetal malnutrition (FM) has been implicated in both short- and long-term consequences among fetal, neonatal, and adult life. Currently, Ethiopia lacks information on the prevalence of fetal malnutrition and its associated factors. This study, therefore, is aimed at assessing the prevalence of FM at birth and its associated factors in South Gondar zone hospitals, northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 1, 2019, to April 30, 2020, among four hospitals of South Gondar zone. All women with their live newborns who met the eligibility criteria were included. Clinical assessment of nutritional status including other anthropometric measurements was done immediately after delivery. The newborn was declared as fetal malnourished if the clinical assessment of nutritional status cut-off point is less than 25. Data were collected by trained clinical midwives. Besides bivariate regression analysis, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to identify associations. Results. A total of 1592 mothers with their live newborns participated in this study. The prevalence of fetal malnutrition was 21.7% (95% CI: 19.7-23.9). Intimate partner violence (AOR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.52-2.56), placental weight less than 512 grams (AOR: 2.76, 95% CI: 2.13-3.57), and small for gestational age (AOR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.46-2.62) were significantly associated with fetal malnutrition. Conclusions. The prevalence of fetal malnutrition was a public health problem in this study. Intimate partner violence, placental weight, and small for gestational age were found the most significant variables. To avert fetal malnutrition, positive family relation and additional or balanced nutritional supplementation during pregnancy are critical. We recommend researchers do clinical follow-up research which comprises a detailed investigation of placental, maternal, and fetal factors including genes.

Associations between placental pathology and poor intrauterine growth among a cohort of mother–infant singleton pairs in Leyte, the Philippines

“…With respect to gestational age‐adjusted growth standards, we report that lower placental weight was associated with increased risks for SGA, small head circumference for gestational age, and small weight‐to‐length ratio for gestational age. Lower placental weight was also associated with an increased risk for fetal malnutrition, which agrees with a recent report from a cohort of term newborns in Ethiopia 38 …”

“…Lower placental weight was also associated with an increased risk for fetal malnutrition, which agrees with a recent report from a cohort of term newborns in Ethiopia. 38 Acute chorioamnionitis was not found to be associated with any anthropometric birth outcomes. ACA is typically a risk factor for premature delivery, 39 yet in this cohort, where ACA was identified in 14.6% of cases, there were no associations with premature birth.…”

Linkages between maternal experience of intimate partner violence and child nutrition outcomes: A rapid evidence assessment

“…A significant association was found between experience of physical IPV during pregnancy and wasting in the single study to explore this relationship [ 93 ]. Experience of combined IPV during pregnancy and fetal malnutrition yielded a significant association in the one study that analyzed this relationship [ 96 ]. Maternal experience of sexual IPV during pregnancy and a child being underweight was not found to be significant in the one study to examine this association [ 68 ].…”