Hygiena 2016, 61(2):48-55 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1384

Impact of Nutrition and the Mother's Lifestyle Risk Factors on the Birth Weight and Birth Length of Newborns

Martin Samohýl¹, Roman Rams^2,3, Katarína Hirošová¹, Diana Vondrová¹, Daniela Krajčová¹, Alexandra Filová¹, Jana Jurkovičová¹

¹ Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Lekárska fakulta, Ústav hygieny, Bratislava, SK

² Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, Ústav verejného zdravotníctva, Martin, SK

³ Katolícka univerzita v Ružomberoku, Fakulta zdravotníctva, Ružomberok, SK

We focussed on the analysis of the birth weight and birth length of newborns depending on the mothers' eating habits during pregnancy was done. The selected maternal lifestyle risk factors with the possible negative impact on their health and on fetus development were assessed (daily alcohol and/or sugary soft drinks consumption, smoking and alternative nutrition prevalence). We have focussed on food groups with a high protection potential, too: the daily fruit and vegetables consumption. Questionnaire collection was realized in two phases. The first phase was aimed at questionnaire data collection in the gynecological out-patiennt departments. The questionnaires was filled in by the pregnant women (n=164). In the second phase all women after giving birth were contacted by phone again and asked for birth weight and birth length of their newborn babies (n=126). A significant negative association of weight gain and BMI before pregnancy was found. In the course of the third trimester pregnant women had the highest energy (10.6±1.8 MJ), protein (66.8±14.9 g), carbohydrates (412.8±106.3 g), and fat (67.3±15.8 g) intake. A reduced fats and/or carbohydrates intake in pregnancy was associated with lower newborn birth weight (p<0.05). With an increased energy intake of 1,000 kJ/day the average newborn weight increased by 29-107 g. An insufficient fruit and vegetables consumption, non-alcoholic sugary beverages overconsumption and alcoholic beverages consumption were found. Smoking prevalence during pregnancy decreased from 11.6% to 5.5%. We are going to apply the results of this study in projects and programs aimed at the prevalence of risk factors in women before pregnancy, which will be focused on healthier eating intervention and smoking cessation.

Keywords: nutrition in pregnancy, mother's Body Mass Index (BMI), newborn

Received: March 2015; Accepted: February 5, 2016; Published: June 1, 2016  Show citation