BACKGROUND : Pre-pregnancy body mass index (PP-BMI) and weight gain during pregnancy play important roles in determining the pregnancy outcome. Gaining desirable gestational weight is considered to be effective in supporting the growth and development of the fetus and it may also influence the body composition in childhood and later life. The purpose of this retrospective study is to determine whether a women’s PP-BMI and the maternal weight gain affects the neonatal outcomes from women accessing care from Primary health Centre.
OBJECTIVES : To estimate the association of pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and weight gain during Pregnancy on neonatal outcome among women seeking PHC in the region of Tamilnadu.
METHODS : A cross sectional study was conducted from July to September 2021 among 105 mothers, whogave birth to newborn in the year2019 in Arakkonam Block using a pretested, semi structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data were entered in Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 21.
RESULTS : Only 29.5% of women gained weight as per the recommendations. Caesarean deliveries are seen more among women, whose pre-pregnancy BMI is Underweight and normal (57% and 65.4% respectively) than compared to overweight and obese (33% and 35% respectively). Obese women who gained weight less than recommended had high risk of giving birth to low birth weight babies(p< .05).
CONCLUSION : Excess weight gain as well as low weight gain during pregnancy could advance to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The need for gaining adequate weight during pregnancy is highlighted. Especially for overweight and obese women, Preconception counseling on Lifestyle modifications to avoid excess weight gain and its impacts could be beneficial in Tamilnadu women.