Factors influencing the outcome of pregnancy were studied in 98 women, ages 12 to 32, divied into four age groups. A significantly higher weight gain was recorded for the youngest age group and the lowest gain for the oldest age group. The amount of weight gained was a function of length of gestation, but was not influenced by calorie intake of the mother. Neither was there significant correlation between protein and calorie intake of the mother and the infant's birth weight. Mean calorie intakes averaged below and mean protein intakes above the 1974 RDA. About 10% of the infants weighed less than 2,500 g and no single factor could be identified as the cause of low birth weight.
PIP: 98 pregnant women, aged 12-32, were studied to determine factors influencing the outcome of pregnancy. A comparison of the nutritional status of pregnant adolescents with adult pregnant women was made. Data on the age of the mother at conception, the week of delivery, her weight gain, her protein and calorie intakes, the size of infant at birth, and the Apgar Score of the infant were used. A significantly higher weight gain was recorded for the youngest group (12-17 years) and the lowest gain for the oldest group (25-32 years). The interaction between age and length of pregnancy was also significant (p less than .028). Calorie intake was unrelated to the amount of weight gained. Weight gain was, however, a function of length of gestation. Calorie and protein intake of the mother was an insignificant factor affecting the infant's birth weight. Low birth weight in about 10% of the infants was untraced to any single factor studied.