ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LACTATING AND NON-LACTATING WOMEN IN A NIGERIAN OUT-PATIENT CLINIC

Abstract

Objective: The present study was aimed at comparing the anthropometric characteristics of postpartum lactating women and non-pregnant non-lactating women.

Materials and Methods: Data was obtained from lactating and non-lactating women attending Institute of Child Health (ICH), University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu. Weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio and percentage body fat were determined. Independent t-fest was used to analyse the differences between the groups. Level of significance was set at P<0.05.

Results: The participants’ age ranged from 18-32 years. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the Body Mass Index, waist circumference and hip circumference of lactating and non- lactating women. There was a significant difference in waist to hip ratio (P=0.020) and postpartum duration (P=0.000) of lactating and non-lactating women.

Conclusion: There is no significant difference in the BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference and percent body fat of lactating and non-lactating women. A significant difference exists between the waist-hip ratio of lactating and non-lactating women.