Abstract

PIP: The World Health Organization (WHO) responded to calls for research into the relationship between women's anthropometric indicators and pregnancy outcomes by conducting a meta-analysis of 25 studies of maternal anthropometry from 20 countries. These studies involved examination of the anthropometric indicators of maternal height, prepregnancy weight, pregnancy weight gain, mid-upper-arm circumference, prepregnancy body mass index, and body mass index at 5, 7, and 9 months pregnant. Pregnancy outcomes were low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, full-term low birth weight, preterm birth, delivery complications, pre-eclampsia, and postpartum hemorrhage. This analysis revealed that attained weight during pregnancy was strongly associated with birth weight and intrauterine growth. Low prepregnancy weight coupled with poor pregnancy weight gain was strongly linked to intrauterine growth retardation. None of the anthropometric measures predicted preterm birth or fetal risk. Only maternal height was linked with risk for assisted delivery, but this indicator was neither sensitive nor specific enough to merit inclusion in routine prenatal care. None of the anthropometric measurements predicted eclampsia or postpartum hemorrhage. While prepregnancy weight is generally not available in developing countries, weighing women during pregnancy is a practical option. Nevertheless, maternal weight is better at predicting women not at risk than identifying those at risk of adverse outcomes. Because routine weighing takes time that can be spent on other activities, the WHO is not recommending that anthropometric screening be a routine component of prenatal care.