Anthropometric Correlates of Maternal Height, Weight and BMI to Birth Weight in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria (2012-2014)

Anthropometry reflects both health and nutritional status of living humans. As to estimate the health and maturity of the neonate, birth weight is one of the important and significant indices of estimation. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical correlates of maternal height, weight and body mass index (BMI) to birth weight of Nigerians in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH). Descriptive analysis was carried out on maternal anthropometric measurements and neonatal data for 500 women collected from maternal folders at the medical record unit of ante natal clinic in UCTH Calabar, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria. Male and female neonate subjects were 247 (49.4%) and 253 (50.6%) respectively. Maternal age, weight and BMI were presented as 3.19?0.03, 27.95?0.20, 77.63?0.64, 1.64?0.003 and 29.71?0.23 respectively. A positive correlation was established between maternal weight and birth weight, maternal height and birth weight as well as maternal BMI and birth weight. There was strong positive correlation between maternal BMI and maternal weight with r=0.902, maternal weight and BMI with an indication of a weak negative correlation of r=-0.044. In conclusion, maternal anthropometric parameters were associated with neonatal birth weight and obviously there was no significant difference between male and female neonatal birth weight. Educating antenatal women on good nutrition is recommended.