Differences in pregnancy outcome and its predictors among various nationalities residing in Kuwait

Abstract

We investigated differences in maternal and infant related birth variables among various nationalities residing in Kuwait and evaluated major predictors of pregnancy outcome. In a cross‐sectional study, pregnant women admitted for deliveries between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm over a three‐month period were recruited from Al‐Sabah Maternity Hospital, Kuwait. Data were collected from 369 mother‐infant dyads on mother height (MH), mother hemoglobin (mHb), child hemoglobin (cHb), mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC), gestational age (GA), placental weight (PW), birth weight (BW), crown‐heal length (CHL), and head circumference (HC). PW/BW ratio was analyzed. Study sample comprised of 21.7% Kuwaitis, 22% Egyptians, 12.2% Indians, 11.4% Syrians, 7.6% Lebanese and 25.1% others. Significant differences among various nationalities were observed in mHb, HC, CHL, PW and MH. Kuwaiti and Indian women had lower PW and their babies had lower HC and CHL. Prevalence of anemia (Hb <11.0 g/dL) ranged from 29.6% (Egyptians) to 57.5% (Kuwaiti) with the overall prevalence of 42.7%. Prevalence of low birth weight in this sample was 3.5%. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed PW as a significant predictor of BW, CHL and HC. In conclusion, significant differences among different nationalities were observed in mHb, HC, CHL, PW and MH and these differences were significantly predicted by PW and MH. The significance of these differences and their contributing factors needs further research.