Newborn anthropometry and its relationship with maternal factors.

A cross sectional study was conducted in a public maternity hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 316 pregnant women and their newborns. The study aimed at examining the relationship between birth weight and maternal sociodemographic, anthropometric and haematological factors. The study revealed that about 15% of babies were of low birth weight (LWB). The mean birth weight was found to be 2889 +/- 468g. The LBW was more common in younger (< 20 years) and older (> or = 30 years) mothers, low income group, day labourer and those with little or no education. The mean birth weight of male babies was on an average 138g more than that of female babies (p < 0.032). The babies of the mothers who had at least three antenatal visits, found to be 191g heavier than those who had less than three or no visit. The study showed that birth weight increased linearly as gestational age increased. The mean birth weight of babies of primi para was 107g less than those of multi para. The incidence of LBW were found to be 23.3% and 10.4% respectively for maternal heamoglobin level of < 9g/dl and > or = 12g/dl. It was revealed that higher maternal anthropometric means were associated with higher birth weights. Logistic regression analysis supports that the gestational age at birth, maternal haemoglobin level and post partum weight were the important determinants of low birth weight.