Pre-gestational anthropometric status and birth weight: NISAMI cohort

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the pre-gestational Body Mass Index (BMIpg) and the newborn's weight in the municipality of Santo Antônio de Jesus, BA. This was a prospective cohort study, with 185 pregnant women and their respective newborns, attended at the Basic Health Units, from April 2012 to November 2013. The pre-gestational BMI was performed with data of their referred weight and height measured on the day of application of the questionnaire. The Kolmogorov – Smirnov test was performed to analyze the normality of the data. The association between pre-pregnancy nutritional status and perinatal outcomes was estimated through the Relative Risk and 95% confidence interval. Of the 185 women, 44.9% started the pregnancy with some weight deviation. Underweight (RR = 2.2; 95% CI = 0.5-9.5) and overweight (RR = 1, 1; 95% CI = 0.5-2.6) women showed a positive association with insufficient birth weight (<3000g), while obese women presented a negative association (RR = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.3-2.7). Only underweight women were at risk for low birth weight (RR = 3.1; 95% CI = 0.3-30.7). These data reveal that the pre-gestational anthropometric status influences the development of pregnancy and the nutritional inadequacies configured in periods prior to conception are considered determining factors for the child's weight. Pre-pregnancy weight deviations were positively associated with inadequate birth weight, which suggests the need for preconception nutritional care. Health care for women of childbearing age may assist in better pregnancy outcomes.

Keywords

• birth weight. risk factors. newborn. pregnant women. cohort study.