Maternal Anthropometric Measurements Do Not Have Effect on Birth Weight of Term, Single, and Live Births in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia

Association between malaria and undernutrition among pregnant women at presentation for antenatal care in health facilities in the Mount Cameroon region

In resource limited settings, malaria and undernutrition are major public health problems in pregnancy. Therefore, this study assessed the association between malaria infection and undernutrition among pregnant women in the Mount Cameroon area. This cross-sectional study enrolled 1,014 pregnant women consecutively over a year. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information and clinical data. Maternal nutrition was assessed using dietary diversity (DD). Peripheral blood samples collected were used for the diagnosis of malaria parasitaemia by microscopy whereas haemoglobin (Hb) levels were determined using an Hb meter. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with malaria and dietary diversity. The prevalence of malaria infection and undernutrition was 17.8% and 89.6% respectively. In addition, of those infected with malaria, geometric mean parasite density was 301/μL of blood (range: 40-9280) while mean DD score was 3.57±0.82 (range: 1-7). The odds of being infected with malaria parasitaemia was highest among women enrolled in the rainy season (OR = 1.58, P = 0.043), who were farmers (OR = 2.3, P = 0.030), had a household size of < 4 individuals (OR = 1.48, P = 0.026) and who were febrile (OR = 1.87, P < 0.001). Also, attending clinic visits in Mutengene Medical Centre (OR = 2.0, P = 0.012) or Buea Integrated Health Centre (OR = 2.9, P = < 0.001), being < 25 years (OR = 2.4, P = 0.002) and a farmer (OR = 10.6, P = 0.024) as well as < 4 clinic visits (OR = 1.62, P = 0.039) were identified as predictors of undernutrition. Furthermore, the association between malaria and DD was statistically significant (P = 0.015). In this study, undernutrition was highly frequent than malaria infection. Thus, there is an urgent need to improve maternal awareness through nutritional counselling and health campaigns on the benefits of consuming at least five food groups. Besides, improved maternal dietary nutrient intake is likely to have impact on the burden of malaria parasite infection.

Effect of antenatal care on low birth weight: a systematic review and meta-analysis in Africa, 2022

Background

Risk identification, as well as the prevention and management of diseases associated with pregnancy or other conditions that may occur concurrently, is the essential component of ANC.

Method

The observational follow-up and cross-sectional studies on the effect of antenatal care on low birth weight in Africa were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Five computerized bibliographic databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Hinari Direct were searched for published studies written in English till May 2022. The risk of bias assessment tools developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute for cross-sectional and observational follow-up research was used, and the caliber of each included study was assessed. Seven papers were included, with a total of 66,690 children participating in the study.

Results

Seven studies met the selection criteria. Prenatal care and low birth weight were linked in four of the seven studies included in the review. The pooled odd ratio for low birth weight in the random-effects model was 0.46 (95% CI: 0.39, 0.53). The pooled odds ratio for low birth weight was 0.21 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.22) and 0.21 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.22), respectively, among pregnant women who had no antenatal care follow-up and those who had antenatal care follow up.

Conclusion

Women who attended at least one antenatal care appointment were more likely than their counterparts to have a baby of normal weight. Interventions to reduce low birth weight in Africa should focus on providing adequate antenatal care and quality healthcare services to women with low socioeconomic status.

Maternal and neonatal anthropometric analyses: Determining birth outcomes in low-risk pregnancies at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki

OBJECTIVE

To assess the input of maternal and neonatal body physique anthropometries to birth outcomes.

METHODS

A prospective study of 177 full-term births at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki from July to December, 2019. Maternal and neonatal anthropometric parameters and birth outcomes: mode of delivery and Apgar score were considered in this study. The measurements followed the guidelines outlined by the Institute of Medicine.

RESULTS

The prevalence of low birth weight (6.21%), cesarean delivery (14.12%), and abnormal Apgar score (9.04%) was relatively low in the study. Birth weight was dependent on maternal age, weight, body mass index, percentage body fat, and waist and hip circumference (P < 0.05). Normal Apgar score at 1 min after birth of male neonates was dependent on maternal BMI and neonatal head circumference whereas abnormal Apgar score in male and female neonates was dependent on maternal age and waist:hip ratio, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Maternal and neonatal body physique anthropometries can be used to identify mothers and neonates at risk of having birth complications. This provided a practical alternative means to know the possible risk of undesirable birth outcomes with spontaneous vaginal delivery in low-risk pregnancies.