ABSTRACT
Birthweight is sensitive index of social and economic change. The objectives of this study are to establish baseline birthweight, per cent of low birthweight and to determine maternal characteristics on LBW among Thai mothers. The study was based on data from birth records which was collected in 1982. The total number of samples used was 28,952. The lowest mean birthweight occurred in the North and Northeastern regions. These two regions had a mean birthweight of less than 3,000 g. The incidence of LBW was highest in the North at 12.8 per cent. The per cent of birthweight showed the highest with maternal age less than 20 years or parity equal to zero. Unskilled workers showed the highest per cent of LBW in the Northeast, North and the East and housewives in the West and South and farmers in the North.
PIP: Low birth weight and maternal characteristics information was collected among the regions in Thailand in 1982. A 10% sample survey was conducted among 72 provincial hospitals and four regional maternal and child health centers: 28,952 birth records. The mean birthweight was computed as a simple average in grams excluding nonreported weights or missing values. Low birth weight (LBW) was weight under 2500 g. The mean birth weights were as follows: 2933 g in the north, 2980 g in the northeast, 3039 g in the east, 3042 g in the center, 3050 g in the west, and 3044 g in the south; LBW as a percentage of births was respectively 12.8%, 10.4%, 9.6%, 9.3%, 8.7%, and 8.2%. The northern region had the highest incidence of LBW. The highest LBWs were among women aged under 20 years or with no prior children. The exception was the eastern region which had the highest LBWs among mothers aged over 35 years. In the northeast, north, and east, mothers who were unskilled workers had the highest percentage of LBW infants. In the west, south, and among farmers in the north, housewives had the highest percentage of LBW infants. Civil servants had the lowest LBW infants, except in the north. The low birth weights in the north and northeastern regions was attributed to a lower maternal age. The mean birth weight of these two regions was under 3000 g. Further research was suggested in order to determine the influence of socioeconomic factors or nutrition on LBW infants.
