LOW GESTATIONAL MID UPPER ARM CIRCUMFERENCE IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND ITS RELATION TO POOR PREGNANCY OUTCOME AT SPHMMC

Abstract

Abstracts Background: Mid Upper Arm Circumference is the most useful measurement for identifying pregnant women with increased risk of Low Birth Weight, Intra Uterine Growth Restriction or fetal/ infant mortality compared to all other anthropometric indicators investigated. Objective: The objective of the study is to determine the magnitude and associated factors with low gestational MUAC for mothers having labor and delivery at SPHMMC. Methodology: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted on mothers who came for labor and deliver. During the study period 876 deliveries were registered and 385 of them were selected by Systematic random sampling method and analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data, odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) are reported. Results: The incidence of IUGR was 28.6% and it was significantly associated with low gestational MUAC with OR=2.4(95%CI=1.48-3.93) and Anemia was found in 8.3% of mothers and it was significantly associated with low gestational MUAC with OR=2.4(95%CI=1.12-5.2).The rate of PTB in this study was 13.5% and no significant association was found with low gestational MUAC. LBW was 30.4% with no significant association with low gestational MUAC. Conclusion and recommendations: Low gestational MUAC is found in significant proportion of mothers having labor and delivery at SPHMMC and it is significantly associated with anemia and IUGR.MUAC should be measured routinely at ANC follow up to identify those at risk of anemia and IUGR. Keywords: MUAC, IUGR, PTB, LBW and Anemia