Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between maternal and newborn anthropometry.
Methods: In 1000 Sudanese mothers and newborns anthropometric measurements were taken within 24 h of birth. The relationship between maternal characteristics including age, years of education, social class and anthropometry, and newborn characteristics including gestational age, weight, body length, body circumference and skin-fold thickness, was investigated on multiple regression with backward selection, and multivariate anova (where appropriate) to identify the most important associations.
Results: Maternal age and anthropometry were significantly associated with newborn anthropometry to a variable extent. The strongest associations (R2 > 5-6%) were found for mid-arm circumference, supine length and birthweight. The postpartum maternal lean body mass (LBM) was significantly associated with birthweight, body length and body circumference (P < 0.001), while skin-fold thickness was mainly associated with maternal age and maternal body mass index (BMI). Gestational age was only weakly associated with the maternal height (R2 > 1.3%) and the association between maternal anthropometry and the ponderal index (PI) of the newborn was negligible (R2 < 1%). Maternal education was significantly associated with birthweight and body circumference (except the abdominal), and the PI and the latter increased significantly with increasing number of years of education. No association between social class and newborn anthropometry was obtained.
Conclusion: There was a significant association between maternal LBM and newborn size and between maternal BMI and newborn fat stores. Maternal education and not social class was associated with newborn size.