Effects of Maternal Health and Nutrition on Birth Weight of Infant

BackgroundPoor nutritional status and inadequate food intake during and prior to pregnancy not only effects women’s health but also have negative impacts on growth and development of fetus. The birth weight of infant is a powerful predictor of growth and survival of infant and is dependent on maternal health and nutritional status. Maternal nutritional status, pre-pregnancy weight, body-mass-index (BMI), and gestational weight gain all are strongly associated with fetal growth and development. So improving maternal nutrition prior to conception and during pregnancy are potential strategies to improve birth weight. Objectives-This pilot study was planned to investigate the effect of maternal health on birth weight and to find out current status of incidence of low birth weight and to study the birth weight pattern. Methodology -A total of 80 mother-infant pairs delivered in a sub-district hospital of Lucknow were interviewed. Anthropometric measurements, including maternal weight, height, body-mass –indexes, total weight gain in pregnancy and infant’s birth weight were recorded and all mothers were interviewed for their bio-social variables. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS method to compare the risk factors and to analyze the effect on birth weight. Results-A total of 63.33% (50) new born were low birth weight, and rests 36.66% were normal. 68 % (34) of low birth weight was due to preterm birth and only 32 % were due to IUGR. Nearly half of the mothers of low birth weight babies had low body mass index during and before pregnancy. Mean birth weight was about 2.463gms. Low birth weight and maternal Hemoglobin status was dependent to each other. BMI and birth weight were also significantly associated. Conclusion:We concluded that birth weight was low in undernourished pregnant women and women with low Hemoglobin level are at increased risk of having low birth weight babies. Maternal health during and before pregnancy is directly related to the birth weight of infant. So health policies should aimed at early detection and effective management of under nutrition to reduce the burden of Low birth weight and there is a need to focus attention on better maternal nutrition and education on birth spacing, early pregnancy, family planning and nutrition.