Maternal height as a contributory factor towards birth of small for date infants

ABSTRACT

A case control study of "small for date" and premature infants was conducted at 17 hospitals in Tehran between December 1989 and June 1990. The study population consisted of mothers of 347 small for date, 261 premature and 1164 normal infants. Mothers who were less than 18 years old and their height less than 155 cm had a statistically significant R. R, F.+ [2.18] for the birth of small for date infants, while mothers of the same age group but with a height of 155-159 or 160-165 cm had an R.R.F. of 2.61 and 1.41, respectively. It was therefore concluded that an increase in height did not decrease the R.R.F. for birth of small for date infants in teen-age mothers. Mothers older than 18 years, 18-29 and 30-39 years with a height of less than 155 cm had an R.R.F. of 1.63 and 1.47, respectively, both being statistically significant concerning the birth of small for date infants. Whilst in mothers taller than 155 cm and older than 18 years no significant risk factor was noted, it was concluded that a maternal height of less than 155 cm seems to be a contributory factor to birth of small for date infants. In this study no association was established between maternal height and prematurity. Since 57% of LB W t infants were small for date, any measures aiming at decreasing this figure would be beneficial to the individual as well as to the community. Short-term measures such as marriage at an older age, availability of contraception to teen-age mothers, and more years of education for girls may help decrease the proportion of small for date infants