Maternal Anthropometry and Dietary Diversity Associated with Birth Weight in Maternity Hospitals in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Aims: Birth weight is a powerful predictor of infant growth and survival and depends on the fetal growth environment, which is influenced by maternal nutritional status. However, the association between maternal anthropometric and nutritional factors and birth weight is not well characterized in Côte d'Ivoire. The objective of this study was to determine the maternal anthropometric and nutritional characteristics associated with birth weight. Study Design: This was a retrospective study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was done in maternity hospitals of three municipalities in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from 1st October to 30 November 2018. Methodology: It consisted in collecting birth data from 146 newborns born from a monofetal pregnancy, whose mothers aged 20 to 42 had participated in a previous survey. Also, the relationship between birth weight, maternal anthropometry and maternal nutrition factors has been studied. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate data analysis was done using SPSS version 25 software. Results: The results indicate mean birth weight of 3118.48±515.39 g and 7.6% and 5.5% respectively of low and excessive birth weight. In a multivariate linear regression, the mean birth weight of newborns of women with medium and high dietary diversity score was higher than those newborn of women with low dietary diversity score (AOR=0.386, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.072-0.699; p=0.017 and AOR=0.233, 95% CI: 0.016-0.450; p=0.036). Similarly, women with gestational weight gain greater than 7 kg and high stature (>1.55 cm) gave birth to heavier children (AOR=0.551, 95% CI: 0.346-0.756; p=0.000 and AOR=0.633, 95% CI: 0.207-1.059; p=0.004, respectively). Conclusion: Although it revealed the presence of low and excess birth weight, this study has shown that maternal anthropometry and dietary diversity score were associated with birth weight of the baby.