THE EFFECT OF MATERNAL AGE, GESTATIONAL AGE an‎d PARITY ON THE SIZE OF THE NEWBORN

A descriptive prospective study was undertaken to determine birth weight, length and head circumference of live births and to examine the effect of maternal age, parity and gestational age on birth sizes of the live births. A total of 459 term singleton maternal– neonate pairs were studied. The neonates had anthropometric measurements determined with in 24hours of life using standard methods. There were 247 (53.8%) males and 212 (46.2%) females. The mean birth weight was 3123.75 ± 492.04, ranging between 1700-4550 gr. The incidence of low birth weight of the newborns was significantly higher for females (P < 0.05), younger maternal age (P = 0.007), primiparas (P = 0.001) and pre-term babies (P < 0.001). On the multivariate analysis, gestational age and sex of the newborn respectively had significant effects on birth weight, length and head circumference of the neonates controlling for the other variables. On the other hand parity and maternal age had significant effects only on the birth weight of the neonates. This study has provided information of the effects of some of maternal characteristics on the size, particularly length and head circumferences be given importance for monitoring and evaluating maternal and child health programs.