ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Underweight is still prevalent in developing countries like India. Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is used as the standard against which the measurements are made in pregnancy. AIM: To study the association between early pregnancy BMI and feto-maternal outcome among nulliparous women. METHODOLOGY: This is a prospective observational study, with a sample size of 294. The antenatal patients were categorized into four categories of BMI according to the WHO classification, and pregnancy outcomes were compared. Data were analyzed using SPSS Software Version 17.0. Statistical tools used were percentages and mean, and categorical variables were analyzed by Chi-square statistics. RESULTS: 48.94% of the patients enrolled in the study had normal early pregnancy BMI, and 44.22% and 6.8% were underweight and overweight, respectively. Obese women who gained more weight were at a higher risk of preterm delivery, cesarean section, and more time required for resumption of normal routine. Underweight women were at higher risk of postterm delivery, low birth weight, and increased hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Adverse maternal and fetal outcomes are seen more commonly with the extremes of BMI.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Inadequate prenatal weight gain is a significant risk factor for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Nutrient intake and weight gain during pregnancy are the two main modifiable factors influencing maternal and infant outcomes. AIM: To assess the social and demographic factors affecting weight gain of pregnant women and to determine the correlation between maternal weight and fetal outcome. SETTING AND DESIGN: Observational prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two different groups and settings of populations were studied, one enrolled in the antenatal clinic of a tertiary care hospital (sample size 197) and the other suburban antenatal clinic located in a slum community (sample size 97) of the same metro city. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for analysis. RESULT: In the tertiary care hospital, 16.75%, 75.13%, and 8.12%, whereas in the suburban hospital 47.42%, 46.39%, and 6.19% primigravidae gained less than or equal to 8, 8.1-16 kg, and more than 16 kg weight, respectively. In the tertiary care hospital, the percentages of preterm birth, low birth weights, special attention needed, and no immediate cry after birth were 5.1%, 19.80%, 4.1%, and 4.1%, respectively, while in the urban health center they were 9.3%, 41.24%, 21.65%, and 11.3%, respectively. A significant association was found between maternal weight gain and birth weight of neonate and special attention needed by baby in both groups. CONCLUSION: Monitoring the maternal weight during the antenatal period epidemiologically determines the strength of association between maternal weight gain and birth weight of child.
