RELATIONSHIP OF MATERNAL AGE WITH TWINING RATE, BIRTH ORDER AND BIRTH WEIGHT OF TWINS

The twinning rate was calculated in rural Bengalee population from the data collected based on two hospitals - Habra State General Hospital, Habra 24-Parganas (North), West Bengal and R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta.

Out of total 32,873 births for the period 1979-86 (except 1981) 334 twins, 3 triplets and 10 pairs with unidentified sex were found. The twinning rate was found to be 10-16 per thousand in rural Bengalee population. The twinning rate reported in Indian literature as high as 18.1 per thousand from rural population was not found in the present study in rural Bengalee population. The twinning rate calculated from rural Bengalee population was almost similar to that of urban Bengalee and other urban populations from different regions of India.

A decrease of stillbirth rate among twins (28.50-16.66) during the period from 1979 to 1986 was found.

The effect of maternal age on twinning rate was found in rural Bengalee population. Analysis of factor such as maternal age at the twin births and order of twin birth in the sibship affecting birth weight among twins was performed. The results of ANOVA reveal that maternal age (P<0.05) and birth order (P<0.01) have significant contribution in affecting the birth weight among twins.