Influence of maternal lifestyle behaviors on birth weight and Apgar score

Abstract

IntroductionUnhealthy maternal lifestyles has been found to be associated with various adverse birth outcomes including low birth weight and low Apgar score. Purpose of the studyThe aim was to determine the influence of maternal lifestyle behaviors on birth weight and Apgar score among post-delivery women in Zanzibar. MethodologyA cross-sectional analytical hospital-based study which included 301 post-delivery women was conducted in Zanzibar from May to July 2019. The predictors of adverse birth outcomes (low birth weight and low Apgar score) were determined using Binary Logistic regression under multivariate analysis using SPSS version 23.0. P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. ResultsThe mean age of the post-delivery women was 28.6 ± 6.709 years. Low birth weight and low Apgar score were found in 40.2% and 26.9% of all the newborn, respectively. Passive tobacco smoking during pregnancy had almost a 4-fold increased risk of low birth weight (AOR = 3.77, 95% CI = 2.16–6.58, p = 0.001). Alcoholism during pregnancy had an almost 2-fold increased risk of causing low birth weight (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI = 3.11–5.34, p = 0.023). Inadequate dietary intake during pregnancy had a 1.21-fold increased risk of low birth weight (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 0.42–1.21, p = 0.007). ConclusionBeing a passive smoker, alcoholism and inadequate dietary intake during pregnancy may predict low birth weight and low Apgar score. Therefore, education should be given to pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in order to prevent or reduce the number of women giving birth to babies with either low birth weight or low Apgar score.