Influence of Maternal Height and Weight on Low Birth Weight: A Cross-Sectional Study in Poor Communities of Northeastern Brazil

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with an increased risk of mortality, adverse metabolic conditions, and long-term chronic morbidities. the relationship between LWB and short maternal stature coupled with nutritional status was investigated in poor communities.Methods/Principal Findings: A cross-sectional population-based study involving 2226 mother-child pairs was conducted during the period 2009-2010 in shantytowns of Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil. Associations between LBW and maternal sociodemographics, stature and nutritional status were investigated. the outcome variable was birth weight (= 2500g). the independent variables were the age, income, educational background, stature and nutritional status (eutrophic, underweight, overweight and obese) of the mother. the frequency of LBW was 10%. Short-statured mothers (1st quartile of stature 160.4cm) (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 0.96 - 1.09, p = 0.078). Children from short-statured mothers weighed an average of 125g less than those from taller mothers (3.18 +/- 0.56kg vs. 3.30 +/- 0.58kg, respectively p = 0.002). Multivariate analyses showed that short stature, age < 20y (OR: 3.05, 95% CI: 1.44 - 6.47) or were underweight (OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 0.92 - 5.95) increased the risk of LBW, while overweight (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.16 - 0.95) and obesity (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.11 - 1.31) had lower risk for LBW. in taller mothers, lower income and underweight were associated with LBW (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.07 - 3.29 and 2.85, 95% CI: 1.09 - 7.47, respectively), and obese mothers showed a trend of increased risk of LBW (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 0.84 - 3.25).Conclusions/Significance: Overweight was found to have a protective effect in short-statured mothers, indicating that a surplus of energy may diminish the risk of LBW. Short-statured younger mothers, but not taller ones, showed higher risk of LBW. the mother being underweight, regardless of stature, was associated with LBW.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas (FAPEAL)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Endocrinol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Alagoas, Fac Nutr, Maceio, Alagoas, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Escola Artes Ciencias & Humanidades, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, Div Nephrol, Escola Paulista Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Alagoas, Fac Med, Maceio, Alagoas, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Endocrinol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, Div Nephrol, Escola Paulista Med, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc