Effects of maternal hemoglobin on fetal birth weight

Abstract

Introduction: Anaemia is one of the main nutritional deficiency disorders affecting a large proportion of the population, not only in developing but also in industrialized countries. The high prevalence of iron and other micronutrient deficiencies among women before and during pregnancy in developing countries is of concern and maternal anaemia is still a cause of considerable perinatal mortality and morbidity. The improvement in the industrialized world is due largely to more effective diagnosis and treatment of anaemia.

Aim of the study: To determine effect of maternal hemoglobin on fetal cord blood haemoglobin and birth weight, To find out relation between cord blood haemoglobin and maternal haemoglobin & to find the relation of birth weight to maternal haemoglobin.

Results: The prevalence of low birth weight among anemic mothers was 24%. Total number of babies with cord blood hemoglobin < 16.8 gms % in mild anemic mothers were 74 (80.4%) moderate anemia were 43(79.6%) and in severely anemic mothers were 2 (50%). The demographic data of patients were studied for the 3 groups (mild, moderate, severe according to WHO classification of anemia) The means of the continuous variables were compared between the two groups using analysis of variance ANOVA. The P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Conclusion: In babies born to anemic mothers cord blood hemoglobin is low. Severity of maternal anemia is determinant of low birth weight. The proportion of low birth weight in babies born to severe anemic mothers were more when compared to mild and moderate anemia