THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 3RD TRIMESTER MATERNAL WEIGHT-GAIN, HEMATOLOGIC STATUS AND INFANT BIRTH-WEIGHT IN LIBERIAN MOTHERS

In 1982, WHO estimated that 20 million infants had low birthweights (L BW) (i.e., <2500 g or 5.5 lb). Most were born in developing countries. Yet for Africa, few studies have examined the relationship between ma ternal nutrition and birth outcomes. Over 540 hospital records were ex amined to 1) estimate the proportion of LBW infants. Between 23 and 80 women were studied prospectively to: 2) examine the effects of matern al health complaints on pregnancy outcomes, 3) examine the relationshi p between weight gain during the 3rd trimester and pregnancy outcome, and 4) determine a weight gain associated with a favorable birthweight range for this sample of women. Results show a positive relationship between birthweight and 6th month maternal Hb values. A 3rd trimester gain of 6.62 kg (14.6 lb) is correlated with a favorable pregnancy out come. Education was positively associated with 6th month pregnancy wei ghts. Public health workers should concentrate both on iron deficiency anemia and weight gain during the last trimester to increase the chan ces for successful pregnancy outcomes.