Maternal risk factors affecting birth weight of babies at PMC hospital Nawabshah

ABSTRACT

To determine the maternal risk factors responsible for Low Birth Weight babies. This Prospective, descriptive study was carried out in the Pediatric Department, Peoples Medical College Hospital Nawabshah from January 2008 to December 2008. For the assessment of maternal risk factors leading to delivery of low birth weight babies, data from 300 women were assessed at the time of admission of their babies in pediatric department. Maternal age, height, problems during pregnancy like anemia, antepartum haemmorhge, hypertension during pregnancy and urinary tract infection were obtained from self-report at interviewed. Average of the birth weight was 2.80 +/- 0.65 kg. 50% newborns were weight less than 2.5 kg. Maternal factors mostly affect the birth weight were poor antenatal visits, deliveries in young age [<20 years], problems during pregnancy specially anemia, hypertension and urinary tract infection and decreased birth interval between two pregnancies. In order to reduce the low birth weight burden perinatal care should be improved like proper antenatal visits, good nutrition of mother during pregnancy, increase the birth space and early recognition of problems during pregnancy and their proper management