Association of neonatal anthropometry with maternal anthropometry and demographics: a hospital-based cross-sectional study from Northern India

Background: Identifying simple maternal physical predictors of neonatal growth is essential for early risk stratification in resource-constrained settings. This study evaluated the associations between third-trimester maternal physical parameters and neonatal anthropometrics. Methods: A prospective, hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 healthy term mother-neonate dyads at a tertiary care center in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. Maternal third-trimester weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), along with sociodemographic factors, were recorded. Neonatal birth weight, crown-heel length, and head circumference were measured within 24 hours of delivery. Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests and Pearson correlation coefficients (p<0.05). Results: Mean maternal age was 26.34±3.53 years and gestational age was 38.46±1.06 weeks. Mean neonatal birth weight, crown-heel length, and head circumference were 2.79±0.24 Kg, 46.08±1.15 cm, and 33.79±0.79 cm, respectively. Low birth weight (<2.5 kg) was observed in 6.3% (n=10). Maternal third-trimester weight, MUAC, and BMI demonstrated highly significant categorical associations with all neonatal parameters (p<0.001). Specifically, maternal weight and MUAC showed positive correlations with birth weight (r=0.516 and r=0.439, respectively), length (r=0.668 and r=0.485), and head circumference (r=0.664 and r=0.461; all p<0.001). Gestational age also correlated positively with all three neonatal measurements (p<0.05). Conversely, maternal height, age, parity, delivery mode, and socioeconomic status showed no statistically significant correlations with birth weight or head circumference (p>0.05). Conclusions: Maternal third-trimester weight, BMI, and particularly MUAC demonstrate positive associations with neonatal birth dimensions. MUAC serves as a practical, low-cost screening tool for antenatal nutritional surveillance in rural healthcare settings.