Birth weight patterns in rural undernourished pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
To study the birth weight pattern in chronic as well as currently undernourished pregnant women.


METHODS
Prospective study of rural pregnant women by following eligible women.


METHODS
Two adjoining blocks of rural Varanasi.


METHODS
3700 pregnant women from rural areas of Varanasi for whom data for anthropometry, hemoglobin, dietary intake, birth weight, fundal height and abdominal girth at 16 +/- 2, 28 +/- 2 and 36 +/- 2 weeks of gestation were recorded. Outcome measure was birth weight pattern of newborns.


RESULTS
Of the births, 7.2% were < 2250 g and 27.4% < 2500 g. The weekly birth weight increments in gestation 36-42 weeks were 5-53 g, only. The fundal height did not increase during 35-39 weeks of gestation (lower by 5 cm as compared to normal). Nutrition supplement in the third trimester significantly increased fundal height and abdominal girth. Fundal height below 24.5 cm at 28 weeks of gestation (1368 women) was associated with higher low birth weight deliveries.


CONCLUSIONS
Birth weight and fundal height increments during later pregnancy are low in undernourished pregnant women. Fundal height < 24.5 cm at 28 weeks of gestation identified women with higher risk for lowbirth weight infants. The prevalence of low birth weight was 27.4% and of prematurity was 6.6%.
Agarwal
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Department of Pediatrics, Insititute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi, U.P., India. agarwalsonika@hotmail.com
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Bansal
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D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009748:Nutrition Disorders; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population