Gestational Weight Gain Trajectories: A Prospective Cohort Study in Rural Raigarh, Maharashtra, India

Preeti Dhillon, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Laxmi Kant Dwivedi, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Suresh Jungari, International Institute for Population Sciences
T R Dilip, IIPS
Sarang Pedgaonkar, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Reshmi R.S, International Institute for Population Sciences
Anjani Mishra, IIPS
Sayeed Unisa, International Institute for Population Sciences, India

Gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with pregnancy and birth outcomes. This prospective cohort study in six villages in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India aims to investigate GWG trajectories and their associated factors. The study used data from 138 pregnant women cohort comprised of 482 observations assessed for anthropometric measures, their dietary practices, and healthcare service utilization every month after their recruitment in the cohort. The baseline data of LoSMINM suggest a substantial dual burden of malnutrition in the study population with a significant percentage of underweight women and, overweight women. The average weight was 51 Kg at any time during gestation (variation bweeen:10kg; within 3kg). GWG was at the peak at 1.9 KG (95%CI: 1.45 - 2.36 KG) in the 7th and (1.1- 2.77 KG) in the 8th month of gestation. GWG varied across social groups and was lower in women who reported any non-communicable disease. However, there were no linkages between GWG and antenatal check-up (ANC) visits, although ANC visits positively influenced the weight at any time during gestation. The findings will contribute to academic knowledge and inform evidence-based strategies for maternal and infant nutrition programs in India, potentially improving the health of mothers and infants.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Longitudinal studies , Health and Morbidity, Multi-level modeling

See extended abstract.