Influence of maternal height and weight on low birth weight: a cross-sectional study in poor communities of northeastern Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with an increased risk of mortality, adverse metabolic conditions, and long-term chronic morbidities. The relationship between LWB and short maternal stature coupled with nutritional status was investigated in poor communities.


RESULTS
A cross-sectional population-based study involving 2226 mother-child pairs was conducted during the period 2009-2010 in shantytowns of Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. Associations between LBW and maternal sociodemographics, stature and nutritional status were investigated. The outcome variable was birth weight (< 2500 g and ≥ 2500 g). The independent variables were the age, income, educational background, stature and nutritional status (eutrophic, underweight, overweight and obese) of the mother. The frequency of LBW was 10%. Short-statured mothers (1(st) quartile of stature ≤ 152 cm) showed a tendency of increased risk of LBW children compared to mothers in the 4(th) quartile of stature (>160.4 cm) (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 0.96 - 1.09, p = 0.078). Children from short-statured mothers weighed an average of 125 g less than those from taller mothers (3.18 ± 0.56 kg vs. 3.30 ± 0.58 kg, respectively p = 0.002). Multivariate analyses showed that short stature, age < 20 y (OR: 3.05, 95% CI:1.44 - 6.47) or were underweight (OR: 2.26, 95% CI:0.92 - 5.95) increased the risk of LBW, while overweight (OR: 0.38, 95% CI:0.16 - 0.95) and obesity (OR: 0.39, 95% CI:0.11 - 1.31) had lower risk for LBW. In taller mothers, lower income and underweight were associated with LBW (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.07 - 3.29 and 2.85, 95% CI:1.09 - 7.47, respectively), and obese mothers showed a trend of increased risk of LBW (OR: 1.66, 95% CI:0.84 - 3.25).


CONCLUSIONS
Overweight was found to have a protective effect in short-statured mothers, indicating that a surplus of energy may diminish the risk of LBW. Short-statured younger mothers, but not taller ones, showed higher risk of LBW. The mother being underweight, regardless of stature, was associated with LBW.
Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Endocrinológicas, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Revilane Parente de Alencar
RP
Britto
Telma Maria Toledo
TM
Florêncio
Ana Amelia
AA
Benedito Silva
Ricardo
R
Sesso
Jairo Calado
JC
Cavalcante
Ana Lydia
AL
Sawaya
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*