TY - JOUR AU - Saeed, Ayesha AU - Naqvi, Mobina AU - Javed, Ahsan PY - 2018/03/02 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Effects of Maternal food Insecurity on Birth Weight of Neonates: A Prospective Cohort JF - Annals of King Edward Medical University JA - Annals KEMU VL - 23 IS - 4 SE - Articles DO - 10.21649/akemu.v23i4.2233 UR - https://annalskemu.org/journal/index.php/annals/article/view/2233 SP - 524-530 AB - <p>Pakistani population is seriously malnutritioned and is hunger redisposed. Based on the Global&nbsp;Hunger Index Pakistan is ranked at 107 of 118 countries .Food insecurity is among major causes of under-nutrition&nbsp;and has been associated with low birth weights. This study aimed to assess the effect of maternal food<br>insecurity on birth weight of neonates in Lahore, Pakistan.Ina prospective cohort conducted at Shalamar&nbsp;Hospital Lahore; from April to August 2016, written informed consents were obtained from 103 eligible&nbsp;pregnant women. Data on demography was collected through a structured questionnaire and exposure was<br>assessed through 6-items Version of U.S. Household Food Security Survey and cohort was followed until&nbsp;delivery, and birth weight was recorded. Follow up could be completed for 50 women only and response rate&nbsp;was 49%. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and relative risk and multinomial logistic Regression were applied&nbsp;using SPSS version 22. Mean maternal age was 28.100+4.824 years, mean education was 12.400+2.138&nbsp;years, mean BMI was 29.420+5.075 and mean household income was PKR 25641+16251.543. With these&nbsp;characteristics, the mean birth weight of2.814+0.551 kg was recorded. Four percent (n=2) had very low food&nbsp;security and 34% (n=17) women had low food security. Importantly, food unsecured women had a 5.439&nbsp;times increased risk of delivering a low birth weight neonate (RR=5.439, CI=1.710-17.296, p=0.002). Regression&nbsp;analysis indicated a significant association (AOR 16.076, CI=2.381-108.564, p=0.004).Based on<br>these studies, it was concluded that food insecurity in pregnancy is associated with low birth weight in neonates.&nbsp;Antenatal screening of food insecurity and timely provision food supplements through social welfare&nbsp;can help reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality.</p> ER -