Predictors of birth weight in Bahrain

The total of 1019 singleton, live births of 37 weeks gestation or more, occurring in all six public maternity hospitals in Bahrain, during the period 1st July to 15th August of 1987 were included in a study to assess the mean birth weight. The mean birth weight was 3246.1 grams [SD +/- 437.7] and boys were heavier than girls. The mean birth weight was significantly and linearly improved with gestation over 37 weeks and for taller mothers. The mean was significantly lower for primiparous mothers with history of previous low birth weight and when parents were first cousins. The birth weight was also adversely affected when the placental weight was less than 500 grams