Abstract
This study aims to detect an association between potential maternal predictors and neonatal anthropometry in Oman. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman between November 2014 and November 2015. The study included all term healthy Omani neonate-mother pairs. Summary descriptive statistics of neonatal (N) weight (Wt), length (L), head circumference (HC) and potential maternal (M) characteristics were collected. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess associations between maternal predictors and neonatal anthropometry. The study cohort identified 2783 eligible pairs. The data showed that parity, maternal weight (MWt), and height (MHt) explained a significant amount of the variance in birth weight: F ratio = 115.4, p value < 0.001, R2 adjusted = 0.12. MWt and MHt were significant predictors of length: F ratio = 65.3, p value < 0.001, R2 adjusted = 0.048. The predictors of HC were MWt, MHt, and parity: F ratio = 53.1, p value < 0.001, R2 adjusted = 0.57. Primiparous mothers were 2.2 times at greater risk of delivering low birthweight newborns. There were no significant differences in anthropometric outcomes between consanguineous and non-consanguineous groups. Maternal weight and height had significant positive associations with the three newborn anthropometric outcomes. Additionally, primiparity was associated with increased risk of low birthweight. Consanguinity was not associated with low birth weight in term Omani neonates.

Key words: maternal predictors, anthropometric measurements, neonates, Oman.