Low Birthweight Delivery : Prevalence and Associated Factors as Seen at a Tertiary Health Facility

ABSTRACT

Background: Low birth weight deliveries are major causes of a huge health burden on poor economies around the globe. It is even more worrisome in developing countries. Materials and Methods: The obstetric records of all low birth weight (LBW) deliveries were reviewed from 1 st June 2005 to 30 th May 2009. Results: The prevalence of LBW deliveries was 8.3. Of the LBW babies; 68.4 were preterm; 53.6 were small for gestational age (SGA) and 12.6 were products of multiple gestations. Predominant factors associated with LBW delivery included nulliparity; low parities (1 and 2); parturient aged 25-35 years (80.6); hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; and short birth spacing (84.4). Conclusion: Most LBW babies were preterm delivered by low parity parturient aged 25-35 years with short inter-pregnancy intervals. Effective family planning and antenatal services provided particularly for these categories of potential parturient could help to curb the incidence