Assessment of anthropometric measurements and associated maternal factors in term newborns at University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Anthropometry is an effective and frequently performed child health and nutrition screening procedure. Anthropometric indices commonly used for the assessment of newborns' body are birth weight, length, and head circumference. Different maternal factors could influence newborn anthropometry. There is no consensus about which maternal characteristics are associated with which newborn anthropometric indices. Most of the previously conducted studies had used birth weight as the sole parameter and focused on the impacts of maternal factors on the birth weight of newborns only. Objective: Assessment of anthropometric measurements and associated maternal factors in term newborns at University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 333 newborn/mother pairs from June 5 to July 11, 2022, in the maternity and neonatal ward of University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Kobo toolbox software platform was used for data collection and STATA software version 16 was used for analysis. Simple linear regression analysis was done to identify competent variables at p-value ? 0.2, and multivariate linear regression analysis was used to identify significantly associated maternal factors with birth weight, length, and head circumference of newborns at p < 0.05. Results: The mean birth weight, length, and head circumference of the newborns in the current study were 2977 grams (95 % CI: 2935.7, 3018.3), 47.05 centimeters (95% CI: 46.72 - 47.37), and 34.7 centimeters (95% CI:34.6, 34.88), respectively. Maternal mid-up-per-arm circumference, lean body mass, parity, educational level, occupational status, and alcohol intake are maternal characteristics that were associated significantly with newborn birth weight. Maternal educational level and occupational status had also a statistically significant association with newborn head circumference. Maternal mid-upper arm circumference, body mass index, and lean body mass were associated significantly with newborn length. Conclusion and recommendation: Maternal MUAC, LBM, BMI, Parity, alcohol intake, occupational status and educational level had association with at least one newborn anthropometry. Mothers should improve their nutritional and educational status and better to abstain from drinking alcohol during pregnancy period Keywords: Term newborns, maternal characteristics, Birth weight, Head circumference, lengt