LOW BIRTH WEIGHT-A HOSPITAL BASED CASE CONTROL STUDY

Abstract

Birth weight has been defined by the World Health Organization as weighing less than 2,500 grams are approximately 20 times more likely to die than heavier babies.2 more common in developing than developed countries; a birth weight below 2,500 grams contributes to a range of poor health outcomes. The present study was done with an objective to find out risk factors associated with low birth weight and strength of association between hypothesized risk factors and low birth weight. The study population was postnatal mothers along with singleton live born baby, delivered during the study period. In present case control study, the incidence of low birth weight found was 27.73 %. Univariate analysis showed following factors to be significantly associated with low birth weight- maternal age, gestational age at the time of birth, low socioeconomic status, occupation of mother, low education of mother, primiparity, parity of 4 and 5, maternal height <145 cm ,maternal weight < 45 kg, less than 4 anc visits, inadequate intake of  iron and folic acid (ifa) tablets, complications during pregnancy, bad obstetric history, severe and moderate anemia, addiction of mother, household heavy physical activity of mother. Following factors to be significantly associated with low birth weight- maternal age, gestational age at the time of birth, low socioeconomic status, occupation of mother, low education of mother, primiparity, parity of 4 and 5, maternal height <145 cm, maternal weight < 45 kg, less than 4 anc visits, inadequate intake of if a tablets, complications during pregnancy, bad obstetric history, severe and moderate anemia, addiction of mother, household heavy physical activity of mother.

Key words: Low birth weight, Maternal factors, Ante-natal care, Case control study.