Background: Main indicators of foetal health include foetal size and foetal growth curves. Evidence regarding factors that affect intrauterine growth is scarce. The objective of our study was to examine the effect of maternal characteristics on intrauterine foetal growth using serial ultrasound measurements in a drought affected rural community in the Rift Valley of South-central Ethiopia.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal community-based study of IUG pattern using serial ultrasound measurements. Data collection period was from July 2016 to November 2017. We included 675 singleton pregnant foetuses >24 weeks based on ultrasound-derived estimation of gestational age. The study included 1699 observations in the analysis. We applied panel regression fixed effects model.

Results: We observed a significant association of maternal weight with the mean Z-score of estimated foetal weight (EFW), head circumference (HC), biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC) and femoral length (FL). We found that a one Kg increase in maternal weight resulted in a mean Z-score increase of 0.086 EFW, 0.025 HC, 0.059 BPD, 0.079 AC, and 0.144 FL. Maternal depression had a significant association with EFW Z-score only. A maternal depression symptom increase by one unit resulted in 0.024 increase in mean EFW Z-score. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of the mother had a negative correlation with EFW Z-score that was significant. A one cm increase in MUAC resulted in 0.045 decrease in the mean EFW Z-score.

Conclusions: We conclude that maternal weight during pregnancy and presence of maternal depression symptoms had an effect on foetal weight.

Keywords: Intrauterine growth, ultrasound, community, maternal weight, Depression