Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
05:04
A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
Maternal autonomy and low birth weight in India
Priyanka Chakraborty1, Alex K Anderson
1Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. cpriya@uga.edu
Journal of Women'S Health (2002)
|July 20, 2011
Summary
Low maternal autonomy in India is linked to a higher risk of low birth weight (LBW) in newborns. Empowering women is crucial for improving infant health outcomes and reducing LBW prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Maternal and Child Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Low birth weight (LBW) affects 30.0% of Indian newborns, representing the highest prevalence in South Asia.
- Maternal autonomy, defined as a mother's decision-making power within the household, is recognized as a factor influencing child nutritional status.
- Limited research exists on the specific association between maternal autonomy and birth weight in the Indian context.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of maternal autonomy on the birth weight of newborns in India.
- To address the gap in literature regarding the relationship between maternal decision-making power and infant birth weight.
Main Methods:
- Secondary data analysis of the 2005-2006 National Health and Family Survey (NFHS 3) from India.
- Creation of a maternal autonomy score using factor analysis, categorized into high, medium, and low levels.
- Logistic regression analysis to determine the association between maternal autonomy levels and LBW, controlling for other factors.
Main Results:
- 20.0% of the study's index children were born with low birth weight.
- Low maternal autonomy was identified as an independent predictor of LBW (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07-1.53, p=0.007).
- Maternal autonomy at the medium level did not show a statistically significant association with birth weight.
Conclusions:
- Empowering women in India is essential for mitigating the high incidence of low birth weight.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing social determinants, such as maternal autonomy, in public health strategies for infant well-being.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
01:27Parenting Styles
Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative Parenting
This...
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative Parenting
This...
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
00:55Parental Care
Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.