Role of Body Mass Index and Antenatal Care in Mode of Delivery, Birth Weight and Haemoglobin at Term

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The current maternal mortality rate of India is 212/100000 live births whereas the country's millennium development goal in this respect is 109/100000 live births by 2015. Although the progress has been made, the actual target remains far from sight. A step to achieve this goal would be to identify the factors affecting maternal mortality & curtail them. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To see the impact of BMI and number of ANC visits on mode of delivery baby weight and anaemia at term. So as to ensure that throughout pregnancy, the mother will have good health & that every pregnancy may culminate in healthy mother & healthy baby. STUDY SETTING: A tertiary care hospital attached to MIMER Medical College, Talegaon Dabhade, Pune. STUDY DESIGN: Community Based Cross-Sectional Study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A suitable proforma was designed. Study design consisted of 342 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies. Inclusion criteria: Primigravida or multigravida with gestational age of >34 weeks & singleton pregnancies. DATA ANALYSIS AND STATISTICAL TESTS: Rates, Ratios, Proportions and Chi-square tests. CONCLUSION: BMI is a good indicator of nutrition in pregnant women. Females with good BMI has less chances of having LBW baby & have less chances of developing anaemia. Good amount of antenatal care leads to decrease in maternal & foetal mortality & morbidity. Though a minimum number of 3 visits are suggested, the study proves, minimum number of 5 visits is essential to decrease the LBW & anaemia incidence in mothers.