Relationship between Placental Weight, Maternal Factors and Neonatal Birth Weight in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The placenta plays a vital role in sustaining fetal growth and development by facilitating nutrient and gas exchange between the mother and fetus. Objective: The study aims to determine the relationships of placental weight with maternal factors and neonatal birth weight. Materials and Methods: This two-year retrospective study was conducted at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, and included term singleton deliveries from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022. Data were extracted from the delivery register and analysed using SPSS version 25. Pearson’s correlation analyses were used to assess the relationships between placental weight and birth weight and between placental weight and maternal biosocial factors. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean birth weight was 3.183 kg (SD = 0.522 kg), and the mean placental weight was 0.685 kg (SD = 0.158 kg). A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was observed between placental weight and birth weight (r = 0.520, p < 0.01). Placental and birth weights generally increased with maternal age and gestational age. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was observed between placental weight and gestational age (r = 0.06, p = 0.035). No statistically significant relationships were observed between placental weight and maternal age (r = 0.04, p = 0.162) or parity (r = 0.04, p = 0.162). The placental–birth weight ratio remained relatively stable across the groups. Conclusion: Placental weight was moderately and positively associated with birth weight. Gestational age showed a weak positive association with placental weight, whereas maternal age and parity were not significantly associated with placental weight.