title: The effect of maternal anemia on anthropometric measurements of newborns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relation between maternal prenatal hemoglobin concentration and neonatal anthropometric measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  All pregnant women who gave birth at the Obstetrics Department of Dr. LK Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006, and their newborns were included in this prospective, cross-sectional study. The newborns' weight, height, head, and chest circumference were recorded. Mothers with hemoglobin concentration less than 11g/dl were evaluated as anemic. The anemic mothers were then grouped into 3 categories according to the corresponding hemoglobin concentration: mild (10.9-9.0g/dl), moderate (8.9-7.0 g/dl), and severe anemic (less than 7 g/dl). The anthropometric measurements of newborns from non-anemic and anemic mother groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 3688 pregnant women, 1588 (43%) were found to be anemic. Among the anemic mothers, 1245 had mild (78.5%), 311 had moderate (19.5%), and 32 (2%) had severe anemia. The anthropometric measurements (height, weight, head and chest circumference) of newborns of anemic and non-anemic mother groups showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.036, p=0.044, p=0.013, and p=0.0002). There was a statistically significant difference in height, weight, and chest circumference of newborns of severe anemic and mild anemic mothers (p=0.017, p=0.008 and p=0.02). The height (1.1 cm), weight (260 g), head (0.42 cm), and chest (1 cm) circumference of neonates in the severe anemic group is less than the mild anemic group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anemia during pregnancy affect the anthropometric measurements of a newborn. Severe anemia had significant negative effect on neonatal anthropometric measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berrin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Telatar
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Comert
authors.forename: Ayca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitrinel
authors.forename: Ethem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erginoz
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akin
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology