Relation of the low birth weight with the nutritional state and some habits of maternal life

Abstract

The relation of the low birth weight with the nutritional state and some maternal life habits was evaluated. A representative sample of 168 mothers of babies with normal weight and 167 of children underweight was selected. The information was obtained from the clinical histories of mothers and babies, being observed the behavior of anthropometric and biochemical indicators, and some variables related with the maternal condition during the gestation. In the mothers of babies underweight it existed a bigger proportion under 25 years and more than 55 % had some type of toxic habit. The biochemical indicators analyzed didn't fulfill the values of references being lower for the mothers of children with underweight. The quantity of toxic habits, pregnancy period and hematologic indicators were closely associated with the birth weight and size of baby.