The effect of maternal anemia on the anthropometric measurements in full term neonates

Abstract

Background: Maternal anemia during pregnancy, prevalent in developing countries like India, is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, including impaired anthropometric measurements. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of maternal anemia on the anthropometric measurements of full-term neonates.
Method: The study included 200 pregnant women (singleton pregnancies, aged 18-40 years, 37-41 weeks of gestation) presenting for antenatal care or labor. Data on hemoglobin levels, BMI, IFA supplementation, dietary intake, and pregnancy spacing were collected. Neonatal anthropometric measurements were analyzed based on the severity of maternal anemia.
Results: During the study period, a total of 3640 pregnant women were attended to our hospital, out of them 200 pregnant women had anemia. Thus, the prevalence of anemia in the present study was 5.49%. Among the anemic mothers, 171 (85.5%) women had mild, 24 (12%) had moderate, and 5 (2.5%) had severe anemia. Severe anemia was associated with lower mean neonatal weight (3.27±0.61 kg), length (48.69±1.31 cm), head circumference (34.04±1.45 cm), and chest circumference (32.43±1.63 cm) compared to mild and moderate anemia. Significant associations were observed between maternal hemoglobin levels and neonatal length, head circumference, and chest circumference (p<0.05). The percentile distribution of weight-for-age, length-for-age, and weight-for-length were significantly affected (p<0.0001), but head circumference-for-age was not. Maternal BMI, IFA supplementation, calorie intake, and pregnancy spacing positively influenced neonatal anthropometry. Conclusion: Maternal anemia adversely affects neonatal anthropometric measurements, particularly in severe cases. Improving maternal hemoglobin levels through prenatal interventions and addressing nutritional deficiencies is essential to optimize fetal growth and neonatal well-being.