TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of maternal diet and iron-folic acid supplements in influencing birth weight
T2 - Evidence from India's national family health survey
AU - Malhotra, Nisha
AU - Upadhyay, Ravi Prakash
AU - Bhilwar, Meenakshi
AU - Choy, Nicholas
AU - Green, Timothy
PY - 2014/12/1
Y1 - 2014/12/1
N2 - Aim: To examine the role of maternal diet in determining low birth weight (LBW) in Indian infants. Methods: Data from the National Family Health Survey (2005-06) were used. Multivariate regression analysis was used to analyse the effect of maternal diet on infant birth weight. Results: Infants whose mothers consumed milk and curd daily [odds ratio (OR), 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.29]; fruits daily (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07-1.36) or weekly (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.02-1.24) had higher odds of not having a low birth weight baby. The daily consumption of pulses and beans (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.36) increased the odds while weekly consumption of fish (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70-0.89) decreased the odds of not having a LBW infant. Intake of iron-folic acid supplements during pregnancy increased birth weight by 6.46 g per month. Conclusion: Improved intake of micronutrient-rich foods can increase birth weight.
AB - Aim: To examine the role of maternal diet in determining low birth weight (LBW) in Indian infants. Methods: Data from the National Family Health Survey (2005-06) were used. Multivariate regression analysis was used to analyse the effect of maternal diet on infant birth weight. Results: Infants whose mothers consumed milk and curd daily [odds ratio (OR), 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.29]; fruits daily (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07-1.36) or weekly (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.02-1.24) had higher odds of not having a low birth weight baby. The daily consumption of pulses and beans (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.36) increased the odds while weekly consumption of fish (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70-0.89) decreased the odds of not having a LBW infant. Intake of iron-folic acid supplements during pregnancy increased birth weight by 6.46 g per month. Conclusion: Improved intake of micronutrient-rich foods can increase birth weight.
KW - Anaemia
KW - Birth size
KW - Iron and folic acid supplements
KW - Low birth weight
KW - Mother's diet
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84929005556&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/tropej/fmu051
DO - 10.1093/tropej/fmu051
M3 - Article
C2 - 25266114
AN - SCOPUS:84929005556
SN - 0142-6338
VL - 60
SP - 454
EP - 460
JO - Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
IS - 6
ER -