RELATION BETWEEN MATERNAL HAEMOGLOBIN LEVEL IN THIRD TRIMESTER PREGNANCY AND NEONATAL BIRTH WEIGHT: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Dr. Nabajyoti Baishya* and Dr. Azhupeo Phimu

ABSTRACT

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy is associated with the high risk of low birth weight. This study aimed at comparing the neonatal birth weight with maternal haemoglobin level during the third trimester. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study done at Bethany Hospital, Shillong and the study population included all pregnant women who were admitted for deliveries at their third trimester from January, 2019 to September, 2021. Mothers with regular antenatal care visits at this hospital were included and those with known causes for anaemia were excluded from the study. The third-trimester haemoglobin level of all pregnant females was correlated with the birth weight of the babies. Results: Out of 1410 pregnancies, 459 (32.55%) had anaemia while 951 (67.45%) had a normal haemoglobin level. The overall prevalence of anaemia in the third trimester was 32.55 %. The neonatal birth weight ranged from 430 g to 4900 g. Low birth weight was seen in 262 (18.58%) whereas 1148 (81.42%) babies had weight more than 2500 g. The overall prevalence of LBW was 18.58% and among anaemic mothers, it was 20.4%. Conclusions: Despite regular antenatal care, anaemia in pregnancy still prevails, affecting the birth weight of new-borns. There was a statistically significant correlation between maternal haemoglobin and neonatal birth weight.

Keywords: Anaemia, Low birth weight, Pregnancy, Retrospective.