1U.G Student, K.L.E University's, J.N. Medicalcollege, Belgaum
2Professor of Community Medicine, K.L.E University's, J.N. Medicalcollege, Belgaum
3Statistician, K.L.E University's, J.N. Medicalcollege, Belgaum
Online published on 15 December, 2017.
Low birth weight is a major public health problem in developing countries, especially so in India. The epidemiological observations depicted that infants weighing lesser than 2500 grams are approximately 20 times more likely to die than heavier babies, closely associated with the fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.
To know the maternal factors affecting the birth weight of newborn.
A retrospective study has been carried out from August to September 2013. A total of 100 low birth weight babies of <2.5kg's were taken as cases and 100 normal weight babies of >2.5kg's were taken as controls and their maternal age was matched. Association was assessed for the maternal factors such as gestational age, parity, Hb %, HIV status, HbsAg status, medical morbidities and obstetric morbidities.
There was association between parity and low birth weight with odds ratio (2.01), gestational age and low birth weight with odds ratio (40.2). Odds ratio for medical morbidity was 1.69 and obstetric morbidity was 1.27 but they were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Most of the pregnant women were registered. The complications were managed well. Severe anaemia was less than 2%; except for prematurity, parity all other risk factors could be managed well in reducing the low birth weight.
Maternal Factors, Low Birth Weight
