A study on birth weight of Iraqi children.

Abstract

1170 Iraqui women from the Basrah governate in southern Iraq were asked questions on their age and parity length of gestation family income education and consanguinity to determine how these factors related to the birth weight of their children. Only women who fit the following criteria were chosen for the study: those who knew the last date of their menstrual period; those who delivered term babies with the gestational period of 259 days or more; and those whose antenatal history did not suggest evidence of preeclampsia eclampsia urinary tract infection hypertension or diabetes. All women were Iraquis married to Iraquis. The average birth weight was found to be 3.32 plus or minus 0.41 kg (3.38 plus or minus 0.46 kg for males and 3.26 plus or minus 0.33 for females) comparing favorably with the birthweights of British infants. Birthweights increased significantly with an increase in gestational period in the mother slightly declining from 41 weeks onward. It was found that up to age 36 the older the mother the heavier the baby. Birthweight also increased consistently with parity up to 5. Those women who had no blood ties to their husbands gave birth to infants with higher birth weights. No significant differences were found in relation to the height education or family income of the mother. Birth weight had no significant relation to prenatal or nutritional supplements taken during the pregnancy. It should be noted that respondents in the study were a select group who showed no antenatal complications.