Monitoring of weight gain during pregnancy

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 31 views

The Influence of Nutritional Factors, Smoking, Drinking Coffee, Drinking Tea, and Antenatal Care on the Incidence of Low Birth Weight Babies (BBLR) in the Working Area of Puskesmas Batang Kuis District, Deli Serdang Regency in 2013

Introduction

Low birth weight (LBW) is a critical indicator of a baby's health, as it is closely related to the risk of morbidity and mortality. Newborns weighing less than 2500 grams are classified as low birth weight babies (BBLR). This condition is a significant concern for healthcare professionals, as it can have long-term effects on a child's health and development. In this study, we aim to investigate the influence of various factors, including nutritional factors, smoking, drinking coffee, drinking tea, and antenatal care (ANC), on the incidence of BBLR in the working area of Puskesmas Batang Kuis District, Deli Serdang Regency in 2013.

Background

The population in this study consisted of all mothers who gave birth to BBLR babies and mothers who gave birth to babies with normal birth weight between August 2012 and July 2013, with a total of 1136 mothers. The samples taken include 51 mothers in the case group and 153 mothers in the control group, which are matched by age, number of pregnancies (gravida), and parity. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of these factors on LBW by using analytical observational study designs and retrospective time approaches.

Methodology

The study employed a retrospective time approach, analyzing data from 1136 mothers who gave birth to BBLR babies and mothers who gave birth to babies with normal birth weight between August 2012 and July 2013. The samples were matched by age, number of pregnancies (gravida), and parity. The study used analytical observational study designs to analyze the effect of various factors on LBW.

Results

The results of this study showed that weight gain during pregnancy had the most significant effect on the incidence of LBW, with Odds Ratio (OR) of 11,206 (95% CI 2,974 - 42.221). This means that the risk of giving birth to BBLR babies in mothers who experience weight gain during pregnancy is less or equal to 9 kg is 11,206 times higher than mothers who have gained weight of more than 9 kg.

Discussion

This finding highlights the importance of monitoring weight of pregnant women as a preventive step to reduce LBW events. In addition, the habit of smoking, coffee and tea consumption also needs to be considered, because it can contribute to the health conditions of the mother and baby. Therefore, the Deli Serdang Health Office and Batang Kuis Health Center are expected to increase efforts to monitor the health of pregnant women. One step that can be taken is to encourage pregnant women to routinely do ANC.

Good monitoring through ANC can help identify and overcome health problems that may arise during pregnancy, so as to minimize the risk of giving birth to babies with low birth weight. With these steps, it is expected that the incidence of LBW in Batang Kuis District can decrease, and the health of the baby and mother can be maintained properly.

Conclusion

From this study, it is clear that awareness of the importance of good nutrition and healthy living behavior during pregnancy is very influential on the health of babies born. Therefore, education to the public about the importance of antenatal care and healthy eating patterns during pregnancy must be improved.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Monitoring of weight gain during pregnancy: Pregnant women should be monitored regularly to ensure that they are gaining weight at a healthy rate.
Antenatal care (ANC): Pregnant women should be encouraged to routinely do ANC to identify and overcome health problems that may arise during pregnancy.
Education on healthy living behavior: Education should be provided to the public about the importance of good nutrition and healthy living behavior during pregnancy.
Reducing smoking and coffee/tea consumption: Pregnant women should be encouraged to reduce or avoid smoking and coffee/tea consumption during pregnancy.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Retrospective design: The study employed a retrospective design, which may be subject to recall bias.
Small sample size: The sample size was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Limited data: The study relied on existing data, which may not be comprehensive or up-to-date.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to:

Investigate the effect of other factors: Other factors, such as socioeconomic status and access to healthcare, should be investigated to determine their effect on LBW.
Use a prospective design: A prospective design should be used to reduce recall bias and improve the accuracy of the findings.
Increase the sample size: A larger sample size should be used to improve the generalizability of the findings.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of monitoring weight gain during pregnancy, antenatal care, and education on healthy living behavior during pregnancy to reduce the incidence of low birth weight babies. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the factors that contribute to LBW and highlight the need for improved education and healthcare services for pregnant women.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Influence of Nutritional Factors, Smoking, Drinking Coffee, Drinking Tea, and Antenatal Care on the Incidence of Low Birth Weight Babies (BBLR)

Q: What is low birth weight (LBW)?

A: Low birth weight is a condition where a newborn weighs less than 2500 grams. This condition is an important indicator of a baby's health, as it is closely related to the risk of morbidity and mortality.

Q: What are the risk factors for low birth weight?

A: The risk factors for low birth weight include:

Poor nutrition during pregnancy
Smoking during pregnancy
Drinking coffee and tea during pregnancy
Lack of antenatal care (ANC)
Poor weight gain during pregnancy

Q: How can pregnant women reduce the risk of low birth weight?

A: Pregnant women can reduce the risk of low birth weight by:

Eating a healthy and balanced diet
Avoiding smoking and coffee/tea consumption during pregnancy
Regularly attending antenatal care (ANC) sessions
Monitoring their weight gain during pregnancy

Q: What is the role of antenatal care (ANC) in reducing the risk of low birth weight?

A: Antenatal care (ANC) plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of low birth weight. ANC helps to identify and manage health problems that may arise during pregnancy, which can contribute to low birth weight. Regular ANC sessions can also help pregnant women to:

Monitor their weight gain and blood pressure
Identify any potential health problems
Receive guidance on healthy living behaviors

Q: How can healthcare providers support pregnant women in reducing the risk of low birth weight?

A: Healthcare providers can support pregnant women in reducing the risk of low birth weight by:

Providing education on healthy living behaviors
Monitoring weight gain and blood pressure
Identifying and managing health problems that may arise during pregnancy
Encouraging regular attendance at antenatal care (ANC) sessions

Q: What are the long-term effects of low birth weight?

A: Low birth weight can have long-term effects on a child's health and development, including:

Increased risk of respiratory problems
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Increased risk of cognitive and behavioral problems
Increased risk of mortality

Q: How can communities support pregnant women in reducing the risk of low birth weight?

A: Communities can support pregnant women in reducing the risk of low birth weight by:

Providing education on healthy living behaviors
Encouraging regular attendance at antenatal care (ANC) sessions
Providing access to healthy food and nutrition
Supporting pregnant women in quitting smoking and reducing coffee/tea consumption

Q: What are the implications of this study for public health policy?

A: The findings of this study have implications for public health policy, including:

The need for increased education and awareness about the risks of low birth weight
The need for improved access to antenatal care (ANC) services
The need for increased support for pregnant women in reducing the risk of low birth weight
The need for policy changes to address the social determinants of health that contribute to low birth weight.