RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The effect of maternal anemia on anthropometric measurements of newborns
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 409
OP 412
VO 30
IS 3
A1 Berrin Telatar
A1 Serdar Comert
A1 Ayca Vitrinel
A1 Ethem Erginoz
A1 Yasemin Akin
YR 2009
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/30/3/409.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between maternal prenatal hemoglobin concentration and neonatal anthropometric measurements.METHODS: All pregnant women who gave birth at the Obstetrics Department of Dr. LK Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006, and their newborns were included in this prospective, cross-sectional study. The newborns' weight, height, head, and chest circumference were recorded. Mothers with hemoglobin concentration less than 11g/dl were evaluated as anemic. The anemic mothers were then grouped into 3 categories according to the corresponding hemoglobin concentration: mild (10.9-9.0g/dl), moderate (8.9-7.0 g/dl), and severe anemic (less than 7 g/dl). The anthropometric measurements of newborns from non-anemic and anemic mother groups were compared.RESULTS: Of the 3688 pregnant women, 1588 (43%) were found to be anemic. Among the anemic mothers, 1245 had mild (78.5%), 311 had moderate (19.5%), and 32 (2%) had severe anemia. The anthropometric measurements (height, weight, head and chest circumference) of newborns of anemic and non-anemic mother groups showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.036, p=0.044, p=0.013, and p=0.0002). There was a statistically significant difference in height, weight, and chest circumference of newborns of severe anemic and mild anemic mothers (p=0.017, p=0.008 and p=0.02). The height (1.1 cm), weight (260 g), head (0.42 cm), and chest (1 cm) circumference of neonates in the severe anemic group is less than the mild anemic group.CONCLUSION: Anemia during pregnancy affect the anthropometric measurements of a newborn. Severe anemia had significant negative effect on neonatal anthropometric measurements.