Maternal Anthropometry and it’s Relationship to Birth Weight

Abstract

Introduction: Nutrition plays a major role in maternal and child health and it is perhaps the most influential non-genetic factor in foetal development. Understanding the relation between maternal nutrition and birth outcomes may provide a basis for developing nutritional interventions that will improve birth outcomes and long-term quality of life. Many research projects have studied maternal anthropometric indicators as predictors of birth weight; not many of them have focused on the question as to which is the best indicator for prediction of pregnancy outcomes with greater accuracy. Hence this study was taken up to assess the relationship between specific maternal anthropometric indicator including Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and pregnancy outcome. The objective of the study was to assess the relationship between maternal anthropometric indicators and birth weight, crown-heel length and new-born’s head circumference. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers who come for safe confinement to District Hospital, Tumkur during June - August 2018. Data was collected using pre-tested, semi structured proforma. Anthropometric measurements like weight, height & MUAC of mother and new-borns’ birthweight & length was collected. Data was analysed using SPSS and linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between maternal & newborn anthropometric measures. Results: There was a statistically significant positive correlation between: Birth-weight and maternal height (r=0.301), MUAC (r=0.222) & gestational weight-gain (r=0.233); Crown-heel length of new born and MUAC (r=0.209); Head circumference and MUAC (r=0.475) and gestational weight-gain (r=0.263). Conclusion: MUAC as an indicator of maternal nutritional status is having a positive correlation with birth weight, and can be used as a predictor of new-born’s anthropometry.