Risk factors associated with intrauterine growth restriction: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is said to be present in those babies whose birth weight is below the 10th percentile of the average for gestational age. Those fetuses are prone to perinatal morbidity and mortality. IUGR remains prevalent in developing countries even after advancements in obstetric care. Aim: The current scoping analysis is conducted to review observational studies reporting on various sociodemographic, medical and obstetrics, and placental risk factors associated with IUGR. Methods: We performed a systematic meta-analysis of relevant studies obtained by electronic databases PubMed and Google Scholar from 2010 to 2022. Relevant research articles were searched forward and backward. Citation searches were also undertaken and all relevant literature were included. Of the 68 studies reviewed, 10 studies were included. Results: Pooled results after investigating 10 articles show that younger maternal age, low-socioeconomic status, primiparity, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, and anemia are significantly associated with the risk of developing IUGR. Conclusion: By studying the risk factors, we will be able to identify the high-risk group. Focus on early detection and high-quality antenatal care will help to overcome the problem of IUGR in the community.