UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD NUTRIENTS AMONG LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND NORMAL BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SETUP IN LUCKNOW, INDIA

Abstract

Materna l factors have an effect on the birth weight. As a result of which, there is a high prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) babies. LBW babies have less nutrient reserve. Protein and iron are the key elements for neonatal growth and development. Deficiency of trace elements during intrauterine period is closely related to morbidity and mortality of the newborn. To assess the umbilical cord blood nutrients in low birth weight and normal birth weight babies. The present cross section study was conducted from 201 1 to 2012 at Sarojni Nagar PHC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Study subjects included pregnant women who were registered in the third trimester of pregnancy at PHC Sarojni Nagar and followed up till delivery. Maternal biosocial characteristics like age, p arity, height, weight and haemoglobin were recorded. Cord blood was collected from 42 LBW and 67 NBW babies delivered at the PHC Sarojni Nagar. In cord blood, serum iron, TIBC, serum protein and serum albumin were investigated. As evident from results s. p rotein, s. albumin and s. iron were significantly low in LBW babies than normal birth weight babies. In low birth weight group, serum protein, albumin and iron were insignificantly low in preterm than term LBW. TIBC showed inverse relationship, level of TI BC was high in LBW than NBW. In low birth weight group TIBC was also significantly high in preterm. LBW babies are born with significant lower nutrition reserve at birth. Finally this study can be integrated with existing health programme for better develo pment of low birth weight babies and accordingly to provide supplementary nutrition to the pregnant women and low birth weight babies.