Birth weight, maternal age, and parity among the african population of uganda.

Abstract

Data on birth weight maternal age and parity was obtained for 1528 maternities at Mulago Hospital Kampala between December 1956 and Septe mber 1957. The babies had a mean birth weight of 6.57 pounds + or - .03 for total births and a mean birth weight of 6.59 + or - .03 pounds for live births. Stillborn babies were significantly lighter at birth (6.24 + or - .164 pounds). Mean age and parity were similar among mothers having live babies and those with stillbirths. Male stillbirths significantly outnumbered female (66 males 38 females; .025 less than p less than .01). Both the stillbirth rate and the twinning rate was much the same among the ethnic groups represented and both were higher than in Europe. There is a definite trend for mean birth weight to increase with parity for a given maternal age; at constant parity however maternal age has no clear effect on birth weight except that very young mothers have lighter babies. Non-Bantu babies were lighter than Bantu babies although their mothers had equal or superior nutritional status. This may be related to the fact that African children have less weight per unit stature than European children which seems to be a genetic trait perhaps a climatic adaptation. There is need for detailed studies on the growth of African children. It may be that the mothers with the lightest babies will have children with the smallest per unit weight.