Influence of maternal nutritional factors affecting birthweight

Abstract

A sampling of 3000 deliveries was selected from the approximately 19000 in the last 2 years in the Bangalore India region. Information from these deliveries was used to study factors which influence birthweight. The average dietary intake of pregnant Indian women is generally unsatisfactory with the average deficity in calorie and protein intake at the 30-50% level. About 40-50% of Indian women suffer from anemia due to iron and folate deficiencies and vitamin B complex deficiencies. These deficiencies continue during pregnancy since food intake does not increase with pregnancy. In fact weight gain during pregnancy among low income women is very low (only 6-7 kg). Graphs and tables present all this nutrition information from the study. Among teenage deliveries mean birthweight in both lower and lower middle income groups is significantly lower than the mean birthweight in older mothers of the same income groups. Upper income teenage deliveries did not show this effect. Maternal height was directly related to birth weight but only in lower income groups. With increasing parity and income birthweights tended to increase. Supplementation to improve anemia did not necessarily result in increased birthweights. Infants born to low income mothers had insufficient stores of protein and iron vitamin A folic acid and B12. Such babies have a high risk of mortality and morbidity.