Conference Abstract Compendium Examples from the ... - CityMatCH

2009 CityMatCH Urban MCH Leadership ConferenceMean differences in low birth weight and prematurity was measured using ANOVA. Analysis of thedataset was performed using SPSS 13.0.RESULTSAmong the underweight women 14.2% had low birth weight babies, as compared to 10.1% for Normalweight women, 9.6% for overweight women, and 11.6% for obese women. There was no significantdifference in low birth weight outcomes between the normal and overweight women.Underweight and obese women had a statistically significant greater percentage of premature infants(15.5% and 16.8%) respectively as compared to normal weight women12.8% and overweight women13.4%.LIMITATIONSOne of the main limitations to this study is recall bias introduced through self-reported pre-pregnancyweight.CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONSWomen, who were either obese or underweight, had statistically significant higher percentages ofpremature and low birth weight infants as compared to women who were normal or overweight prior totheir pregnancy. Most public health messages are geared towards encouraging women to lose weight, butthere should a concerted effort to encourage underweight women to achieve a healthy weight as well.86