The relationship between nutritional status of mothers in their third trimester and delivery of low birth weight infants

About 21 millions low birth weight infants are born throughout the world and have less surviving chance compared to death rate of infants due to other causes. The aim of this study is to determine the relation of mother's nutrient intake in the last trimester with the delivery of low birth weight infants. This Cohort study with a 3-months follow up was carried out on all the pregnant mothers visiting health care centers in Shahrood during their third trimester. Simple sampling was done and samples included 424 subjects. One-week food record of subjects was documented biochemical and hematological tests and also anthropometric examinations were done, and demographic data were gathered. The infants’ birth weight was measured after delivery. Data was gathered by a questionnaire and analyzed using Chi square, Mann-Whitney and Leven tests and logistic regression. Total number of 424 pregnant mothers was studied in accordance with their amount of energy and protein intakes, and was classified in two groups of adequate and inadequate status. It was disclosed that 75% of mothers received low energy (less than 2500 k cal) and 20% were low in protein intake (less than 60gr). Low birth weight prevalence was detected to be 13%. Among low birth weight infants 14%, 25% and 43% were attributed to mothers with low energy, low protein, and non-iron tablets intake respectively. There was a significant relationship between birth weight and iron supplementation (P=0.015), as well as multi-vitamins (P=0.048) during the last trimester of pregnancy. It was also disclosed that the probability of low birth weight infants among low weight mothers was 86%. According to the results there is a significant relationship between mother's nutritional status in the last trimester of pregnancy and infant's birth weight, so it is recommended that mother's weight gain especially in the third trimester and using adequate supplementations be considered.