Socio-demographic correlates of mothers given birth to normal and low birth weight babies

ABSTRACT

To observe the pattern of morbidity affecting fetal growth among the low socio economic group women. One hundred and fifty pregnant women who were in 2[nd] and 3[rd] trimester were selected from government maternity hospital which catered to the low socio economic group. The selected subjects were followed up till delivery. Morbidity profile was monitored every fortnightly throughout pregnancy. The women were grouped into two, based on birth weight of neonates. Those women who had babies with normal birth weight were referred as normal birth weight group [NBW] and those with low birth weight infants were referred as low birth weight group [LBW]. Significant differences in the morbidity pattern in the two groups were seen. The major sicknesses among normal birth weight [NBW] group were low back pain, Urinary tract infection, and allergy, while the low birth weight [LBW] groups were found to suffer from urinary tract infection, constipation, allergy, low back pain, diarrhea, and stomach ache. Incidence rate of the common sickness were significantly lower in NBW women as compared to the LBW group