Impact of maternal nutrition and socio-economic status on birth weight of babies in Port Said Governorate, Egypt

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Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health problem in most developing countries including Egypt, being associated with a high incidence of neonatal mortality in these regions. There is, therefore, an urgent need to determine ways and means to prevent LBW and its consequences. This study was designed to study the impact of maternal nutrition and socio-economic status on birth weight of babies in Port Said Governorate, Egypt. Data shows that the prevalence of LBW in the stated health centers varies widely by pregnant mothers age, area, socioeconomic status (family income, parents education), the weight gain during the pregnancy etc. The mean weight gain of the pregnant mothers in this study was 7.39 ±0.97 kg (The weight gain standard is 11 kg).  Weight gain in pregnancy, maternal hemoglobin, serum iron and serum antioxidant vitamins were all found to be significant for LBW (p < /em>< 0.05-0.001).  Maternal nutritional status impacted significantly on newborn birth weight as poorly nourished mothers were observed to produce a higher percentage of LBW babies when compared to those who were better nourished. Therefore, the challenge of addressing the LBW problem therefore remains an urgent imperative for development.

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