e were systematically associated with infant birth weight such that birth weight increased as parity decreased and gestational age increased. Also, as body mass rose to and above 19.8 kg, infant birth rate also rose. While parity is not a function of nutritional status, gestational age and body mass index can be affected by variables related to nutrition.
The first of the study's three objectives (assess the level of prenatal care and background variables related to prenatal health risk) was met through an assessment of pregnant Saudi females': (1) Demographic risks (age, socioeconomic status(poverty), and under-education); (2) Medical Risks Predating Pregnancy (parity, low weight for height, presence of maternal diseases, and poor obstetric history); (3) Medical Risks During Pregnancy (poor weight gain, short interpregnancy intervals, malnourishment, anemia, obesity); (4) Behavioral/Environmental Risks (smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke, alcohol); and (5) Health Care Risks (absence of or inadequate prenatal care, absence of nutritional knowledge or information).
Data collected on demographic risk factors showed that, in general, females were having children during relatively good child-bearing years and that their income was not excessively low. However, they were somewhat under-educated. Thus, of the demographic risks, the most serious risk factor would be the education factor.
Regarding medical risks predating pregnancy, parity was found to be high, weight-to-height ratios were about average to good for most sample females and very few mothers had diseases predating pregnancy. However, obstetric history was quite poor.
Regarding medical risks during pregnancy, weight gain data was not very good in that it indicated either relatively low or relatively high gains for 44 percent of the sample; moreover, 26 percent of the mothers were either anemic or obese.
Behavioral/Environmental risk data showed that 80 pe...