Birth Weight in Relation to Maternal Anthropometric Indices

Research findings from various parts of India reveal that the diets of the pregnant women of the low socio economic stratum are inadequate in quality and quantity. The energy intake of these women is only between 1200 and 1600 Kcal which remains unaltered through out pregnancy. Incidence of low birth weight is two and a half times higher among pregnant women having less than 1500 Kcal per day than among those who have adequate energy intake. Poverty, inadequate food intake, particularly in the later months of pregnancy and high requirements of energy on account of hard physical labour precipitate severe malnutrition which is by far the most frequent cause of low birth weight and foetal growth retardation all over the world. Maternal malnutrition and the resulting low birth weight infants remain the single most important factor in infant morbidity and mortality in the world and reduction in its rate has been named by WHO as one of the global indicators of progress.