Sedigheh Keshavarz; Maryam Chananeh; Khatoon Samsami; Nadieh Pakari; Razieh Bagherzadeh
Abstract
Background: Fetal development is a strong predictor of neonate's survival after birth and poor fetal development is a health risk factor in infancy and adulthood. The frequency of factors ...
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Background: Fetal development is a strong predictor of neonate's survival after birth and poor fetal development is a health risk factor in infancy and adulthood. The frequency of factors that may affect fetal development is different from one society to another; therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate certain prenatal problems and their relationship with neonate's anthropometric indices at birth. Methods: The present cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted using the records registered in Iran’s Integrated Health System (locally known as SIB). They comprised of the records of 616 pregnant mothers who had given birth during 2017-18 in Bushehr city (Iran). The registered details of the mothers and infants were reviewed from the first prenatal visit to the first postpartum visit. A checklist was prepared to cumulate the information in their records. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS-19 through the appropriate statistical tests at a significance level of p <0.05. Results: The mothers' mean age was 30.84±5.30 years. 3.9% of the infants weighed under 2500 g and were, therefore, in LBW group. The frequency of anemia was 16.25% and 22.5% respectively in the first and second trimesters. It was revealed that Gestational age (β=157, p <0.001) and the infant's male gender (β=117, P=0.004) has a direct and significant relationship, and vaginal childbirth an inverse and significant relationship (β=-122, P=0.003) with the infant's head circumference. Gestational age at birth (β=195, P>0.001). The mothers’ body mass Index (BMI) (β=241, P>0.001) in the first prenatal visit was also shown to have a significant relationship with the infant's weight-for-age Z-score. Moreover, GA (β=229, P>0.001) and mother's BMI (β=242, P>0.001) in the first prenatal visit had a significant relationship with the infant's length-for-age Z-score. The infant's anthropometric indices had no significant relationships with perinatal complications such as anemia, controlled diabetes, and urinary tract infections. Conclusion: Prenatal complications such as anemia were prevalent in the study population, and required particular attention. The mother's BMI can predict fetal development and should be the focus of greater attention in prenatal clinics
