Study on the determinants of pregnancy outcome.

Objectives: Adequate nutrient intake during pregnancy is important to fetal and maternal health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting pregnancy outcome and to provide basic data to promote more favorable pregnancy outcomes Material and methods: Data were collected from 100 pregnant women at two hospitals in Hail region of Saudi Arabia. Demographic characterstics, anthropometric measurements and health related habits were obtained using a questionnaire at the hospital visit soon after the delivery. Data on pregnancy outcomes, including birth weights and gestational ages, were obtained from hospital records. Birth weights were divided into three groups, a low birth weight group (birth weight <2.5 kg), a normal birth weight group (2.5 -3.9 kg ) and a high birth weight group (≥4 kg). Results: The Socioeconomic status was significantly with the birth weight (p<0.05), with high birth weight group babies belonging to high income group and low birth weight babies from lower income groups only. Weight and BMI of the mothers before pregnancy, total weight gain during pregnancy and hemoglobin levels were found to be significantly correlated with the birth weight. (p<0.05). Few health related habits and risk factors were significantly different among the three groups. Birth weight or sex of the baby was not significantly affected by gestational age. Conclusion: Birth weight remained an important factor affecting the neonatal infant and childhood mortality and morbidity. Low birth weight babies are more likely to have disabilities in four of developmental delay, poor growth and mental disabilities. For reducing the prevalence of low birth weight, public health strategy needs to focus attention on better maternal nutrition and education.

The factors affecting pregnancy outcomes in the second trimester pregnant women

Adequate nutrient intake during pregnancy is important to fetal and maternal health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting birth weight and gestational age and to provide basic data to promote more favorable pregnancy outcomes. Data were collected from 234 pregnant women at two hospitals in Seoul. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements and health related habits were obtained using a questionnaire at the hospital visit during the second trimester. Dietary intakes were estimated by 24 hour recall at the hospital visit during the second trimester. Data on pregnancy outcomes, including birth weights and gestational ages, were obtained from hospital records after delivery. Birth weights were divided into a low birth weight group (birth weight3.6 kg). Gestational ages were divided into tertiles according to the gestational age of the subjects: group 1 (40.00 weeks). The number of family members was significantly lower in the low birth weight group than in the normal birth weight group (p<0.05). In the low birth weight group, pregnancy weight was significantly lower than in the high birth weight group (p<0.05). Health related habits were not significantly different among any of the groups. Intakes of fiber, phosphorous, iron, vitamin B6 and folic acid were significantly higher in the high birth weight group than the low birth weight group (p<0.05). Gestational age was not significantly affected by nutrient intakes, but birth weight was affected by nutrient intake in the results of this study. Therefore, the adequacy of nutrient intake is important for the improvement of pregnancy outcomes.