Association of Birth Weight with Gestational Age and Maternal Measles Antibodies

A Gidado,Bu Ahmadu,Z Rabi,G Anita,Ma Chekwube,Mu Fatima,B Abdulrahman,S Ubong,Y Shemiya,B Amina,Y Iranyang

doi:10.3126/jnps.v35i1.10461

Abstract

Introduction: Maternal measles antibody (MMA) offers protection against measles in early childhood, however, certain determinants of this antibody lives much to be desired. The aim of the study were to determine the association between birthweight (BW) and gestational age (GA), to assess the relationship between BW and MMA, to correlate GA with MMA and to examine the combined effects of BW and GA on MMA.Material and Methods: The work was a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study. Babies were enrolled using systematic random sampling method. The babies BW was measured using the bassinet scale; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine MMA. GA of babies was determined using the mothers' last menstrual period (LMP) or by Dubowitz score or by Obstetric ultrasound scan. Data were analysed using SPSS statistical software version 16, Illinois, Chicago USA and a computer program for epidemiologist PEPI version 3.01. Spearman’s correlation (rho), Kendall’s rank correlation (tau b) and Jonckheere-Terpstra test of association of ordinal variables were determined. Univariate analysis was used to investigate the combine effects of BW and GA on MMA. Likely-hood ratio Chisquare (?2) was used for categorical data. Goodman-Kruskal index rank order of predictive association (tau) of ordinal data was also calculated.Results: 200 babies were enrolled, 101 (50.5%) were males and 99 (49.5%) females. 169 babies (84.5%) had normal BW, 117 (58.5%) were delivered at term. The mean BW was 3.04 (0.58) at 95% CI (2.96 – 3.12) kg. Association between BW and GA was significant (p=0.003), the predictive value for the association was also significant (p=0.039). Significant correlation was also observed between GA and MMA (p<0.001).Conclusions: There was a significant association between BW and GA and MMA correlated well with GA.J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2015;35(1):6-12

Highlights

Maternal measles antibody (MMA) offers protection against measles in early childhood, certain determinants of this antibody lives much to be desired
Nigeria’s country health system record has shown that up to 61 percent of pregnant women had at least one antenatal care (ANC) visit and about half of these women had skilled a endant receiving their babies at the me of delivery[21]. Both preven ve and interven on ac vi es with regard to maternal health are conducted during ANC that could have led to healthy women carrying healthy adequate weight babies to term
Some authors associated measles with lifelong an bodies and others argued that even measles immuniza on gives an bodies that could last up to four decades, and possibly lifelong . 8,9,17,22 our study popula on was found in measles endemic region, which further bu resses measles virus (MV) exposure and measles immuniza on as principal determinant of MMA8,17,21

Summary

Introduction

Maternal measles antibody (MMA) offers protection against measles in early childhood, certain determinants of this antibody lives much to be desired. The aim of the study were to determine the association between birthweight (BW) and gestational age (GA), to assess the relationship between BW and MMA, to correlate GA with MMA and to examine the combined effects of BW and GA on MMA. Previous study conducted by Bromberg et al[12] in 1994, demonstrated that mothers from developing na ons had higher levels of MMA than those in developed countries. Other variables that had been studied included socioeconomic status, educa on, race, parity, age, nutri on and gesta onal age (GA). All these apart from GA looked at MMA of mothers as a surrogate determinant of measles an bodies in babies[8,9,10]

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