Evaluation of the relationship of maternal nutritional status with that of the newborn

ABSTRACT

To evaluate and see the relationship of maternal nutritional status with that of the newborns. Design: This was a prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study The research was carried out on mothers between the age of 20 to 40 years in the Lady Willingdon and Ittefaq Hospital. Patients and The study was carried out on 30 mothers, divided in two groups, comprising 15 in each. 15 mothers belonging to the low socio-economic class whose income was < Rs 6000/month, and 15 to those belonging high socio-economic class with an average monthly income Rs > 20000 / month. Anthropometrics indexes of the infants from Lady Willingdon Hospital indicated that all the infants were of low birth weight [<2500gm]. Low hemoglobin [<10gm/dl] were found in many women though the ferritin stores were satisfactory. Similarly half of the infants had low hemoglobin levels [11-13 gm/dl] with an adequate ferritin stores. It was also found that high maternal hemoglobin levels [>11 gm/dl] were positively correlated with higher infant hemoglobin, serum ferritin, weight, height and head circumference measures. It was thus concluded that maternal nutritional status is directly related with that of newborn