Low birthweight discrimination using maternal variables.

Lee, Munha

Abstract

Many studies have reported factors, such as maternal weight, weight gain during pregnancy, smoking habit, which are associated with birthweight. Hytten and Paintin (1963), Duffus et al (1971), Pirani, Campbell and MacGillivray (1973) have shown a relationship between plasma volume expansion in pregnancy and birthweight. Plasma volume has previously been studied but only in isolation from the other maternal factors or in small scale surveys. From 1967 to 1980, antenatal and birth records including a number of maternal characteristics and plasma volume have been compiled in Aberdeen for a large number of primigravidae. With this sizeable file of records, this study attempts to relate birthweight and maternal characteristics (plasma volume in particular), and aims to result functions which can make reasonably accurate identification of women who are likely to have small for gestational age infants, based on known maternal factors. By the method of discriminant analysis and multiple regression, functions have been derived to be used for screening for women at risk. A number of factors were identified, including maternal weight at the 20th week of pregnancy, weight gain during the 20th-30th week of pregnancy, plasma volume level at the 30th week and smoking habit. With the four mentioned variables, about 65-70% of primigravidae cases can be identified correctly. Those identified as at risk can then be given special care in the hope of reducing the potential risks of their infants.

Citation

LEE, M. 1985. Low birthweight discrimination using maternal variables. Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology, MPhil thesis. Hosted on OpenAIR [online]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-1993250

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Sep 11, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 11, 2024
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-1993250
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1993250
• Award Date: May 31, 1985