Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Accompanied With Anemia: Potential Stunting of Newborns

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) of anemia pregnant women is a major contributor to adverse birth outcomes of newborns. This research aims to assess the association between pregnancy induced hypertension of anemia pregnant women and poor birth outcomes of newborns, especially body length of newborns at delivery.

MATERIAL & METHODS: One hundred and eight pregnant women are enrolled according to the inclusion criteria. Sociodemographic data, anthropometric measurements, obstetric profiles (gravida), and data of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were collected in this study. Trained midwives drew blood samples from pregnant women as the study samples to measure their hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and to assess their anemia. Gestational age (GA), types of delivery, anthropometric measurements of newborns (length, weight, head circumference, abdominal circumference and chest circumference) were conducted at delivery. Univariate and bivariate linear analyses were conducted to compare birth outcomes of newborns for each group

RESULTS: Of the total 108 pregnant women as the study samples, 25 pregnant women had blood pressures at normal level and normal Hb concentrations, 36 pregnant women had pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), 29 pregnant women had anemia and 18 pregnant women had pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) of anemia pregnant women respectively. All groups showed significantly different characteristics of pregnant women in terms of age (p = 0,027), height (p = 0,019), weight (p = 0.000), body mass index (BMI) (p = 0,001), Hb concentration (p = 0.000), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.000), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.000). Mean length of newborns was significantly lower in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) with anemia pregnant women (p = 0.001). Statistical tests showed that there were negative correlations between maternal Hb concentrations and birth length (p = 0.024) as well as blood pressure and birth length (p = 0.000).

CONCLUSION: The average length of newborns in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) of anemia pregnant women was statistically significant shorter length (stunting) than the normal group. Thus, it is suggested that women who give birth with these conditions should pay more attention to the intake of good nutrition in the first 5 years of their children (the gold period) to prevent long-term adverse effects.