Nutritional Risk Factors of Low Birth Weight Among poor Rural Mothers from Maharashtra, India.

Abstract

Objective: Identifying nutritional risk factors associated with LBW is of critical importance to plan appropriate interventional programs for achievement in reduction of prevalence of LBW. Method: Clinically normal full term ANC mothers registering within 20 weeks of gestation at a rural hospital in Maharashtra, India were enrolled (n=370). Their socioeconomic, demographic information, dietary consumption pattern and anthropometric measurements were recorded and were followed up till delivery. Result: Most mothers had low education, were engaged in heavy work and had low family income. They were thin (46.2 ± 7.5Kg), short (150.8 ± 6.1cm) and undernourished (20. 3 ± 3.2Kg/m 2). Mean birth weight of babies was 2568 ± 305 g while the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) was 41.9 %. Significant risk for LBW was seen for young (<20 yr) mothers (OR=2.21; CI: 1.1 -4.3), for those with previous abortion (OR=3.1; CI: 1.7-5.4), for those with low (<42.5 Kg) weight at registration (OR=1.8; CI: 1.1-3.0) and for those with low (<18.5Kg/ m 2) BMI (OR=1.8; CI: 1.1 -3.0). Significant risk was also observed for mothers with lower (<1/d) consumption of roti (OR= 1.77; CI: 1.0-3.1) and low (<1cup/wk) consumption of milk (OR=1.85; CI: 1.1-3.3) or milk products (OR=1.75; CI: 1.1-2.7) and more importantly, it remained significant even after adjusting for the above maternal confounders. Conclusion: Independent influence of nutritional factors i.e. low consumption of staple food and milk on risk of lbw assumes importance, as dietary modification offers the only modifiable avenue for improving birth weight in poor populations.