Maternal Anthropometry as Predictors of Low Birth Weight

Abstract

The usefulness of maternal anthropometric parameters i.e. maternal weight (MWt), maternal height (MHt), maternal mid-arm circumference (MMAC) and maternal body mass index (MBMI) as predictors of low birth weight (LBW) was studied in 395 singleton pregnancies. The maternal anthropometric parameters were measured in the first trimester of pregnancy and were plotted against the birth weight of the newborns. Significant positive correlations were observed among MWt and birth weight (r=0.38), MHt and birth weight (r=0.25), MMAC and birth weight (r=0.30) and MBMI and birth weight (r=0.30). The most sensitive being MWt (t=7.796), followed by MMAC (t=5.759), MHt (t=4.706) and MBMI (t=5.89). For prediction of LBW, the critical limits of MWt, MHt, MMAC and MBMI were 45 kg, 152 cm, 22.5 cm, 20 kg/m2 respectively. From these observations, the use of colour-coded weighing machines, height rods and tapes may be devised for use by peripheral health workers and traditional birth attendants for detection of mothers at risk of delivering low birth weight babies (Table 5). Mothers who have anthropometric parameters in the 'red zone' are at risk of delivery LBW infants.

Common SNPs in LEP and LEPR associated with birth weight and type 2 diabetes-related metabolic risk factors in twins

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“…The following factors, operating through these genetic and "environmental" channels, have been shown to be related to the birth weight: the sex of child -for the same gestational age boys tend to be heavier than girls (Kramer 1987); maternal ageinfants born to adolescents and women above 35 years tend to be smaller (Sharma et al 2008;Khoshwood 2005); maternal birth weight (Simon et al 2006); maternal weight (Rice and Thapar 2010;Mahanty et al 2006;Godfrey and Barker 1997;Brooks et al 1995); maternal nutrition -cumulatively, and during pregnancy (Stephenson and Symonds 2002;Prentice et al 1983); cigarette smoking (Magee, Hattis, and Kivel 2004); ethnicity (Blanc and Wardlaw 2005;Cogswell and Yip 1995); and socioeconomic conditions operating partly through some of the factors already mentioned (Cramer 1995). To elaborate on the latter effect, it has been shown in subSaharan Africa as well as other developing parts of the world, that poverty, low education, and women's lack of autonomy are related to limited or late initiation of obstetric care, irregular or incomplete immunization (e.g.…”

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