INFLUENCE OF MATERNAL HEIGHT ON BIRTH-WEIGHT, BABY-SIZE AND GESTATIONAL-AGE IN INDIA: EVIDENCE FROM NATIONAL FAMILY HEALTH SURVEY, 2015-16

In order to achieve the target set by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of infant and child mortality levels by 2030, long-term good health and development of the new born babies, an accelerated effort is still required in reducing the occurrence of low birth-weight, small baby-size and early gestational-age which is also proximate determinants of child-mortality and morbidity. Therefore, in this paper an attempt has been made to see the impact of mother's related factors, health care and some other related covariates on birth-weight, size of the child and gestational age at birth with special reference to maternal height in India. For this study, data is drawn from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), conducted in 2015-16. NFHS collect information on fertility, family planning, maternal and child healthcare, childhood immunization, infant and child mortality, nutrition, HIV/ AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes, women empowerment, domestic violence etc. Along with these information, they take data on birth weight, size and gestational age of the child at birth. The statistical analysis shows significant role of maternal height on low birth weight, size of the baby and gestation period. On the basis of analysis of nationally representative sample data for India, we have found that low birth-weight, small baby-size and early gestational age is highly associated with mother's related factors, health care-factors and some other covariates for India. Maternal height played a significant role to explain anthropometric measures of child, as the height of women decreases the relative-risk of having low birth-weight, small baby-size and early gestational birth getting increases and it was highest for 14 5 cm -149.9 cm and <145 cm women in India.