IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 18, Issue 2 Ser. 11 (February. 2019), PP 04-09 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-1802110409 www.iosrjournals.org 4 | Page A Cross-Sectional Study on the Relationship of Antenatal Care and Birth Weight of the Baby at a Medical College and Hospital, In Kolkata Dr. Kanti Bhushan Choudhury 1 , Dr. Sukanta Majjumdar 2 , Dr. Sarmila Mallik 3 , Dr. Pankaj Kumar Mandal 4 , Aditi Sarkar 5 , Dr. Sanchari Nandi 6 , Assistant Professor, Calcutta National Medical College Assistant Professor, Calcutta National Medical College Associate Professor, Calcutta National Medical College Associate Professor, Calcutta National Medical College Statistician-cum-Tutor, Calcutta National Medical College Calcutta National Medical College Corresponding Author:Dr. Sukanta Majumdar Abstract: Background-In the developing and under developed countriesincluding in India, LBW which is one of the significant determinants of infant and childhood mortality and morbidity, is one of the major public health problem. Good Antenatal care is one of the important factors that drastically reduce LBW. Objective -This study tried to focus the relationship between antenatal care and birthweight of the baby. Methodology- An institution based descriptive cross sectional study conducted by interviewing & reviewing health records of the 317 mother accompanying with their baby selecting by systemic random sampling in immunization clinic at CNMC, Kolkata .The data compilation and analysis was done by IBM SPSS 19 version. Result – The result shown that majority of study subjects were 20-29yrs age gr.(79.9%), Muslims(78.4%) , resided in urban area(90.9%), belonged to joint family(61.8%), educated up to middle school level(59.6%),lower socio economic strata(75.1%) as per Modified BG Prasad Scale 2017 and homemaker(97.9%) .From this study we found 41.6% mothers had low birth weight babies, 67.8% mothers had <4 antenatal visits, 5.3% mothers did not complete her immunization, 33.8% mothers had not increased diet in her antenatal period, 34.3% mothers taking insufficient rest at her antenatal period,6.7% mothers had addicted to smoking 12.9% mothers done strenuous activity, 6.6% mothers had danger sign and 30.3% had some types of morbidity in her last antenatal period. The study showed that increased outcome of LBW baby among mother who had lesser ANC visit (Chi sq – difference - 10.0012, df-1, p-.00551), lesser birth spacing (Chi sq-58.45, df - 1, p -0.00000), less no of IFA tab intake (Chi sq-30.04,df-1, p-.000000), less amount of food (Chi sq- 68.8, df-1 , p- 0.000000), strenuous activity (Chi sq -10.245 , df -1 , p-0.0014), less amount of rest during antenatal period (Chi sq-52.17, df -1, p -0.00000), had smoked at antenatal period (Chi sq -9.57 , df -1, p-0.002), had danger sign (Chi sq- 6.95, df -1, p-.008), had morbidity (Chi sq- 65.04, df-1, p- 0.00000 ), not immunized (Chi sq – 1.5, df-1, p- .22) and all difference were statistically significant except immunization status. Conclusion – From this study we concluded that birth weight was low in case of mothers who had less or no antenatal check up, less rest, less nourishment, more strenuous activity, smoking during antenatal period,had danger signs & morbidity.So good antenatal care is required for minimized or reduced LBW babiesand ultimately leads to major reduction of infant & childhood mortality & morbidity. Key Words – LBW ,ANC , Danger sign . --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 04-02-2019 Date of acceptance: 19-02-2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction In Indian subcontinent LBW is one of the major public health problem and is a significant determinant factor for infant and childhood morbidity and mortality.At present, globally 22million or around 16% of the infants are LBW [According to United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, undernourishment in the womb can lead to diminished potential and predispose infants to early death, Oct 2014] andthe level of low birth weight in the developing countries (16.5 per cent) is more than double the level in developed regions (7 per cent). More than 95 per cent of low birth weight babies are born in developing countries. [1] According to WHO, Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as weight at birth of baby less than 2500g (5.5 lb). [2]