Impact of maternal risk factors on birth weight of newborn in two maternity hospitals in Baghdad city

A cross sectional analytic study was carried out to identify the maternal risk factors which contribute to occurrence of low birth weight, and to determine the statistical significant differences between low birth weight and maternal risk factors. A purposive sample of [400] woman was selected from AL-Elwyia Maternity Teaching Hospital and Fatima Al-Zaharia Maternity and Pediatric Teaching Hospital. Data was collected through the interview of mothers. Questionnaire format was designed and consisted seven parts, demographic variables, and reproductive variables, Reproductive health variables, complications during the current pregnancy, the mother newborn variables nutritional status for the mother, antenatal care services, and the psychosocial status for pregnant women. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were determined by conducting a pilot study. Descriptive and inferential statistical procedures were used to analyze the data. The results of the study revealed that the most of them their age was ranged between [20-34] years, and the highest percentage of them were graduated of primary school and less, most of them were housewives with low socioeconomic status. The result indicated that there were five important variables contributed to the incidence of low birth weight and these variables were gestational age nutrition status, previous low birth weight, and psychosocial status for pregnant women during pregnancy and the age of mothers. it is recommended to emphasize on prenatal care as early as possible and improve health services rendered to mothers during pregnancy that the nurse must take the role in reducing the incidence of LBW

Continuation of oral contraceptive methods used

A household survey was conduced in Skeikh Omer Primary Health Care Center in Baghdad City to assess the continuation of oral contraceptive method used in respect to some variables among clients who attended family planning clinic for the first time during January / 1997 and they were followed up one year after using the method. Sample of the study consisted of [109] clients using oral contraceptive. Data were collected through an interview questionnaire form after one year using the method through home visit. Results of the study revealed that [65.1%] of the study sample had continued to use the oral contraceptive method after one year, in addition more than one third of study sample had discontinued to use the method either dropped out or switched to other method after one year. There were five variables which emerged from multiple Logistic regression analysis as the prime determinants of the continuation of oral contraceptive method and which came in order of importance which include: Duration between last two pregnancy, regular attendance of client to family planning clinic, acceptance of oral contraceptive method, husband desire and desire for having the last child. Also the result stated that the highest percentage [84.4%] of intrauterine contraceptive device users mentioned that the occurrence of side effects were the reason for discontinuation of the method. The study recommended that the necessity of improving the educational aspect of family planning services and establishing a follow up system in each clinic to detect continuation of the method and necessity the integration system of family planning services with primary health care and obstetrical and gynecology health services