Analyzing Factors That Influence Infant Birth Weight

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The birth weight of an infant is an important issue, as it plays significant roles in infant/childhood mortality and also has important health implications in overall growth and development of individuals.1 Birth weight has been shown to be an index of intrauterine growth and a reliable predictor of child survival and mental development.23 There are numerous research studies concerned with the factors that determine birth weight.4-10 Factors such as maternal weight gain, smoking, alcohol consumption, gestational age, maternal anthropometry and many other variables have all been the subject of several scientific papers. The World Health Organization defines normal birth weight as 2500 to 4000 grammes. Low birth weight (<2500g) is usually associated with significant infant mortality. 1, 11 Fetal macrosomia (birth weight >4000g)12 has however been shown to have significantly less association with infant mortality in recent years, probably due to medical advances in management of the condition.13 Smoking has been documented to reduce birth weight. It is postulated that the mechanism for this is via tobacco induced loss of appetite, resulting in reduced maternal nutrition and resultant low birth weight.14 Many other socio-biologic factors affecting birth weight include maternal age, maternal education, sex of baby, antenatal care, marital status, socioeconomic status, genetic factors and place of residence 2 The objectives of this study were to determine the factors that influence birth weight and to establish which of these factors can be used to estimate birth weight. The aims were to ascertain the individual effect of each of these factors and their effect as a group. This is an important research question, and findings from th... ... middle of paper ... ...t of Alcohol and Caffeine Consumption during Pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol 1993; May 1;137(9):941-50. 24. Sulaiman ND, Florey CD, Taylor DJ, Ogston SA. Alcohol consumption in Dundee primigravidas and its effects on outcome of pregnancy. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1988; May 28;296(6635):1500-3. 25. LETAMO G, MAJELANTLE R. FACTORS INFLUENCING LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND PREMATURITY IN BOTSWANA. J Biosoc Sci 2001;33(03):391-403. 26. Reichman NE, Teitler JO. Paternal age as a risk factor for low birthweight. Am J Public Health 2006; May;96(5):862-6. 27. Gillman MW, Rifas-Shiman S, Berkey CS, Field AE, Colditz GA. Maternal Gestational Diabetes, Birth Weight, and Adolescent Obesity. Pediatrics 2003; March 1;111(3):e221-226. 28. Hypponen E, Smith GD, Power C. Parental diabetes and birth weight of offspring: intergenerational cohort study. BMJ 2003; January 4;326(7379):19-20.

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