[Maternal posture and its influence on birthweight].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the relationship between maternal posture/physical activity and inadequate birthweight.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study involving 152 pregnant women from a public low-risk antenatal care facility. Three interviews evaluating the frequency of physical activity were administered to each pregnant woman during gestation. Birthweight (inadequate when <3,000 g and adequate when > or =3,000 g) was the dependent variable and the frequency of physical activity the independent variable. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic univariate analysis and multiple regression controlling for schooling, smoking, living with spouse, and baseline nutritional status.


RESULTS
The practice of walking for at least 50 minutes during the first period of pregnancy was identified as a protective factor against inadequate birthweight (adjusted OR=0.44; 95% CI: 0.20-0.98). Standing for 2.5 hours or longer during the second semester of pregnancy was associated with increased risk (adjusted OR=3.23; 95% CI: 1.30-7.99). Dose-response relationships were identified for washing clothing by hand and cooking (p-value for linear trend <0.01 and 0.05, respectively). After confounder control, only washing clothing during the second trimester of gestation remained statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show the importance of medical orientation regarding posture and physical activity during antenatal care, aiming at the reduction of inadequate birthweight.
Departamento de Nutrição, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. mytakito@usp.br
Monica Yuri
MY
Takito
Maria Helena D'Aquino
MH
Benício
Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira
Mdo R
Latorre
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011187:Posture; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors