Prevalence and influence of maternal undernutrition on intra uterine growth restriction (IUGR) among beninese newborns

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to identify the contribution of maternal undernutrition, characterized by maternal weight status and short stature, on the risk of Intra Uterine Growth Restriction. During June 2007 and July 2008, we carried out a cross-sectional study in three health centers in Benin. Mothers and newborns characteristics and anthropometric measurements were collected at delivery. IUGR was defined as a birth weight below the 10th percentile of William’s sex-specific reference curve of birth weight-for-gestational-age. Logistic regression was performed for statistical analysis. A total of 526 mothers and their newborns were enrolled. The prevalence of IUGR was 25.3%. Maternal low weight status and short stature (<155cm) accounted for 29.8% and 26.2% respectively. Maternal low weight status (OR=2.53, p<0.000), primiparity (OR=1.98, p=0.01) and Male gender (OR=1.68, p=0.01) were significantly associated with a higher risk of IUGR. Maternal short stature was related to the risk of IUGR in univariate analysis (p=0.02) but no longer in multivariate (p=0.13). Maternal stature and weight status (i.e pre pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain) are main determinants of IUGR in LMIC’s. This result confirms the urgent need of public health interventions to improve nutritional status of women of childbearing age before pregnancy, or during initial stages of pregnancy.