Relationship between placental weight, birth weight, maternal biosocial characteristics and placental-to-birth-weight ratio.

Abstract

Background: The placental weight is routinely measured at birth and its relationship to birth weight and maternal biosocial characteristics can provide information on both neonatal and maternal health status. Aim: To determine the relationship between placental weight (PW) at birth, birth weight (BW), maternal biosocial characteristics and placental-tobirth- weight ratio (PBWR) as well as generate a reference range in an African population. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving parturient who had singleton deliveries at 32weeks gestation with comparison of maternal biosocial parameters, PW, BW and PBWR. Deliveries <32weeks gestation, multiple gestation and incomplete placenta were excluded from the study. Data was retrieved from the institutional birth registry; data management included determination and comparison of mean values and ratio of individual parameters using SPSS version 21.0. Result: Among the 8645 participants, the mean PW was 589.2±146g and it increased with maternal age.