A Cross Sectional Study of Maternal Factors Influencing Low Birthweight.

ABSTRACT

Birth weight is a powerful predictor of infant growth and survival. The infant mortality rate is also higher in low birth weight babies. Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the most serious health challenges in developing as well as developed countries. A retrospective study was done in a tertiary care hospital to estimate the incidence and study the associated maternal risk factors. The magnitude of the Low Birth Weight problem at Pravara Rural Hospital (tertiary care hospital ) Loni was 23.68%. In 41.6% of LBW babies, the maternal age was less than 20 years Most of the low birth weight babies were born to mothers with secondary level of educational status. Percentage of LBW among higher order pregnancies was 66.6%. Spacing less than 1 year was responsible for 46.2% of LBW babies. Majority of LBW cases was seen in mothers with gestational period being less than 37 weeks. Mothers with height less than 145cm contributed to 22.2% of LBW babies. The incidence of LBW among women weighing 41-50kg was 52.77%.