The effect of maternal family social support on birth weight and foetal Apgar score among post natal women in a tertiary hospital in southern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The family is an essential source of support to pregnant women. The expectation of every pregnant woman is to be healthy and deliver a healthy baby. Sometimes this does not occur as apparently healthy pregnant women who received optimal antenatal care ended up delivering babies with low birth weight and low Apgar score.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of perceived maternal family social support on birth weight and Apgar score.

Methodology: A case-control study involving 200 newly delivered women who attended ante-natal care at Federal Medical Centre Asaba was carried out. Participants were systematically selected and were administered a validated Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaire while the birth weight and Apgar score of their babies were recorded from the delivery notes.

Results: Women aged between 25-29 years were the predominant age group accounting for 33.5%. There was a higher mean MSPSS score among the control group (40.866±8.33) when compared to the study group (28.48±6.24). Birth weight and Apgar score had direct relationship with poor perceived family social support.

Conclusions: The effect of perceived maternal family social support on birth weight and Apgar score in this environment is similar to that in other countries. A good psychosocial assessment of every pregnant woman alongside the routine ante-natal care will identify those with low perceived family social support.

Keywords: Perceived Maternal Family Social Support, Birth Weight, Foetal Apgar Score