Association Between Trimester-Specific Gestational Weight Gain and Newborn Anthropometric Outcomes at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra

Maternal pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gains have been linked to newborn characteristics, particularly birth weight, which is critical for child survival. This study determined the association between trimester-specific gestational weight gain, maternal lifestyle practices, and newborn birth weight and length. This retrospective cross-sectional study involved 302 mothers conveniently sampled from the maternity block of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. Data on maternal lifestyle practices were collected using a validated semi-structured questionnaire. Maternal weight and height were measured at the first antenatal visit, with weight recorded at the end of each trimester. Newborn anthropometric data were collected using standard procedures and converted to Z-scores. Independent sample t-tests were used to assess the significance of categorical variables on newborn characteristics, while Spearman’s correlation tested associations between continuous variables. Simple linear regression identified maternal factors predicting variations in birth weight and length, which were incorporated into the final model. The mean maternal weight at the first antenatal visit was 57.9±3.1 kg, with mean gestational weight gains of 4.2±2.6 kg and 4.9±3.5 kg by the second and third trimesters, respectively. The total gestational weight gain averaged 9.1±4.2 kg. The mean newborn birth weight and length were 3.2±0.5 kg and 49.1±2.7 cm, respectively. The mean Z-scores for wasting, underweight, and stunting were -0.21±0.95, -0.09±1.15, and -0.51±1.20, respectively. Birth weight correlated statistically significantly with maternal age (r=0.118, p=0.046) and gestational weight change between the second and third trimesters (r=0.118, p=0.041). Birth length showed a significant correlation with total gestational weight gain (r=0.629, p<0.0001). In the final regression model, maternal age (β=0.115) and total gestational weight gain (β=0.116) were significant predictors of birth weight. Total gestational weight gain predicted both birth length and birth weight, while weight gain between the second and third trimesters specifically influenced birth weight.