ASSOCIATION OF LOW ANTENATAL HEMATOCRIT LEVEL WITH LOW BIRTH WEIGHT

Abstract

Background: The typical determinants of “low birth weight” are linked with critical biological, environmental & social circumstances that can occur before or during pregnancy. Nutritional elements, including a woman’s weight prior to pregnancy and the amount of weight gained during pregnancy, are crucial in influencing the fetus birth weight.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between low antenatal hematocrit level with “low birth weight”.

Methods: A “retrospective Cohort Study”at Department of Pediatrics, PAF Hospital Mushaf, Sargodha. This study was managed from 10^th June 2024 to 10^th December 2024. A total of 200 newborns (100 exposed/ 100 non-exposed) were covered in the study. 100 sample size for Group A or low antenatal hematocrit group while 100 sample size for Group B or normal antenatal hematocrit level group. Low birth weight was noted from the two groups.

Results: Age range in this research was gestational age >36 weeks with mean age at of 38.300±1.24 weeks, mean mother age 28.950±2.73 years and mean birth weight was 2.775±0.31 kg in exposed group and mean age of 38.800±1.26 weeks, mean mother age 28.000±2.98 years and mean birth weight was 2.936±0.21 kg in non exposed group. Low birth weight was 2.936±0.21 kg in non exposed group. Low birth weight was observed in 23 (23%) patients in exposed group as compare to 5 (5%) patients in non exposed group (P= 0.000, RR=4.6)

Conclusion: Our study showed that low antenatal hematocrit is related with low birth weight