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Objectives This study measures the prevalence of risk factors among pregnant women and young children aged 12-24 months in a rural community in West Bengal, India. Methods Community health workers (CHWs) enrolled women and children into this 2015 cross-sectional study. Pregnant women were evaluated for underweight, anemia, and abnormal blood pressure. Children were evaluated for underweight, abnormal head and upper arm circumferences, and low scores from the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Data were collected on smartphones and tablets or by paper. Results More than half of the 279 women (59.9%) had a risk factor during pregnancy: 48.7% were anemic, 35.1% had low blood pressure, and 7.5% were underweight. Among the 366 children, 59.3% had a risk factor, including 24.0% with low ASQ scores and 49.7% who had abnormal anthropometric measures. Conclusions for Practice Vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and young children, needed a greater connection to doctors in this rural community. This study demonstrated the feasibility of CHWs to listen to health concerns and connect underserved populations with health care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study determined the incidence of low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), preterm birth, and perinatal morbidity among Asian Indians (AI) in New Jersey (NJ), as well as identified predictors of SGA. We analyzed birth records for singletons born to mothers identified as AI and non-Hispanic white from 2008 to 2011, obtained from the NJ Department of Health. For AI, rates of LBW and SGA were elevated, rates of preterm birth were similar, and neonatal intensive care unit admission was lower, compared to whites. Factors associated with SGA in AI included nulliparity, anemia, hypertension, placental abruption, and lack of prenatal care. Maternal education, marital status, substance abuse, and timing of prenatal care were associated with SGA in whites, but not in AI. SGA incidence was higher among AI despite preterm rates similar to whites. Anemia was associated with SGA uniquely among AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy body weight on conception and adequate weight gain during pregnancy is important to ensure that the mother and baby remain well. About 30% of women living in South Asia enter pregnancy with severe or moderately severe underweight and do not gain sufficient weight during gestation to allow the fetal growth to proceed unimpeded. In India, out of twenty million babies born every year, about seven million are low birth weight.1 The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of first trimester BMI on pregnancy, labour and fetal outcomes, which will help to identify how significant is the BMI monitoring in antenatal period for preventing complications. Antenatal and intranatal records of 250 primi gravid women were studied over a period of one month for knowing the complications which had occurred to mother and her fetus during antenatal and intranatal period. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS 11.5 package and relation was found using logistic regression. Complications like gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, preterm delivery, meconium stained liquor, low birth weight, small for gestational age and IUGR were found to be more in abnormal first trimester BMI categories. Abnormal first trimester BMI revealed to be associated with severe maternal and neonatal complications. Therefore pregnant women should maintain a normal BMI to achieve a healthy pregnancy outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]