Frequency of Factors Responsible to Small for Gestational Age Babies in Primigravida

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of factors responsible to small for gestational age infants in primigravid women. Study Design: Cross Sectional Study Setting: This study was carried out in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of Agha Khan University Hospital, Karachi Duration of Study: This study was conducted from 15th September 2018 to 10th January 2019. Subjects and methods: A total of 127 women with singleton pregnancy and gestational age 28-35 weeks by LMP with 0 Parity were included. Women with history of miscarriage, diabetes and family history of SGA babies were excluded. Ultrasound was done to all women and Small for Gestational age babies (as per operational definition) was recorded. All the women was interviewed regarding smoking and detailed history and examination was done to make clinical assessment and for ordering the proper investigations to establish medical disorder by the researcher herself. Venous blood was collected from all women and was immediately sent to laboratory. Hemoglobin < 10 g/dL was recorded as anemia. Ultrasound examination was done for oligohydroamnios as per operational definition. Patients BMI were calculated. Hypertension was also calculated as per operational definition. Data was recorded for factors. Results: Age range in this study was from 18-40 years with mean age of 27.968± 2.05 years and mean gestational age 31.692±2.40 weeks, mean weight 71.645±12.94 Kg, mean height 1.549±0.10 meters and mean BMI was 29.924±5.12 Kg/m2. Majority of patients were from 18-30 years age group (89.8%). As far as risk factors are concerned smoking was seen in 5.5%, overweight 65.4%, hypertension 13.4%, oligohydramnios 29.1%, anemia 12.6%, preeclampsia 15.7%, hypothyroidism 16.5%, hyperthyroidism 6.3%, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome 13.4% and diabetes mellitus was 8.7%. Conclusion: A variety of risk factors have been discovered for newborns deemed SGA by customized centiles. SGA is associated with a number of lifestyle factors, many of which are controllable, such as food, smoking, and exercise. Future research is needed to verify our findings. Keywords: Small for Gestational Age, Primigravid women, Factors