Maternal factors in the aetiology of small-for-gestational age among term Nigerian babies

Abstract

Abstract Background: Babies are classified according to the relationship between birth weight and gestational age, the latter being the strongest determinant of birth weight. Small-for-gestational age (SGA) babies have birth weights less than the 10th percentile for age and sex or more than two standard deviations below the mean for age and sex.

Objective: The study was carried out to investigate the maternal factors associated with the delivery of term small-for-gestational age babies in a Nigerian Hospital.

Methods: In the cross-sectional survey, the anthropometric parameters of term singleton infants were related to maternal age,  Parity, socio-economic class, anthropometry and medical disorders in pregnancy.

Results: A total of 825 babies were surveyed within the first 24 hours of life. The mean birth weight of babies was 3233 ± 539g. The males had significantly longer mean crown-heel length and mean occipitofrontal circumference compared to females p = 0.048 and p < 0.000 respectively). The prevalence of infants with small-for-gestational age was 7.2% (5.7% and 8.8% among males and females respectively). The proportion of mothers who did not encounter significant illness in pregnancy was lowest among those who had SGA babies, followed by mothers of LGA babies and those of AGA babies in that order. With respect to maternal age, weight, height and body mass index (except inter-pregnancy interval), mothers of SGA babies had significantly lower values  compared to mothers of the AGA and LGA babiesc(p < 0.03).

Conclusion: This study identified age, parity, anthropometry and hypertension- related disorders as major maternal factors  associated with the birth of SGA babies in Nigeria.

Keywords: Anthropometry, Intrauterine growth restriction, maternal illness, Nigeria.