Low birth weight in relation to sex of baby, maternal age and parity: a hospital based study on Tangsa tribe from Arunachal Pradesh.

ABSTRACT

Records of 151 Tangsa singleton live births over a period of 4 years at the Nampong Primary Health Centre of Nampong Circle of the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh were analysed to examine the effect of sex of baby, mother's age and parity on the incidence of low birth weight. The occurrence of low birth weight was 28.48% and only 4.64% of newborns weighed 2000 g or less. The mean birth weight was found to be 2806.95 +/- 39.32 g. Female babies had a significantly higher incidence of low birth weight than male babies. Parity was found to be significant influence on the incidence of low birth weight. An increase of low birth weight babies was noticed after 4th parity and the best outcome was also observed at this parity. The higher incidence of low birth weight was found in the 5+ parity. Young mothers (< 20 years) had also higher incidence of low birth weight and mother's age had no significant effect on the incidence of low birth weight.