Correlation of Maternal Hemoglobin with Birth Weight: A Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the correlation of maternal Hemoglobin concentration in labor with birth weight. Study design and setting: This was cross sectional study conducted in Qazi Hussain Ahmed Medical Complex, (QHAMC) Medical Teaching Institution Nowshera, from 20th April 2019 to 31st Jan 2020. Methodology: A total of 254 deliveries were assessed. All pregnant ladies in labor, presenting to labor room of QHAMC Nowshera, irrespective of age were included. The weight of babies was recorded at birth. Pearson correlation and logistic regression and relative risk analysis were used to show the relationship and probability of occurrence of low birth weight babies in anemic and non anemic patients. Results: The mean with standard deviation of hemoglobin in mothers was 10.76+1.63 g/dl. The mean with standard deviation of birth weight was 2.71+0.6 kg. The frequency of low birth weight babies was 68(26.77%) with weight less than 2500g at birth. A positive linear correlation of birth weight with level of hemoglobin of mother in labor was statistically significant (p=0.001, r=0.35). Using logistic regression analysis, it was observed that the probability of LBW in pregnant women with hemoglobin<11g/dl was 3.31 times higher (p= 0.001, OR=3.31). Conclusion: The frequency of LBW is 26.7% markedly higher and maternal anemia is a risk factor for it. The relative risk is 2.4 times higher in anemic pregnant ladies as compared to the non anemic mother