Customized birthweight standard for an Iranian population.

OBJECTIVE: To produce a customized birthweight standard for Iran. METHOD: Retrospective study of a pregnancy database collected from five hospitals across Iran. The cohort consisted of 4994 consecutive term births with complete data, delivered between July 2013 and November 2014. Coefficients were derived using a backwards stepwise multiple regression technique. RESULTS: Maternal height, weight in early pregnancy and parity as well as the baby's sex were identified as significant physiological variables affecting birthweight. Paternal height and weight were also significant although weaker factors. The expected 280-day birthweight, free from pathological influences, of a standard size mother (height 163 cm, weight 64 kg) in her first pregnancy was 3390 g. Pathological factors found to affect birthweight in this cohort included village housing, anemia, preexisting and gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. CONCLUSION: The analysis confirmed the main physiological variables that affect birthweight in other countries and shows paternal factors also to be significant variables. Development of a country-specific customized birthweight standard will aid clinicians in Iran to distinguish between fetuses that are either constitutionally or pathologically small, thereby avoiding unnecessary interventions, and improving identification of at-risk pregnancies and perinatal outcome.

Mortality causes in children 1-59 months in iran.

BACKGROUND: Mortality rate indicator for children under 5 years old is one of the important indicators in countries' development. Identifying the most common causes of mortality is one of the most important attempts to reduce mortality in children less than 5 years. The purpose of this study was to identify distribution of the mortality causes in Iranian children less than 5 years. METHODS: This cross-sectional study has been carried out based on the results of data from the Child Mortality Surveillance System since 2007 to 2008. To determine the causes of death questionnaires have been designed which include personal data of the deceased child, medical history, and information on procedures at the time of hospitalization or death. RESULTS: Of 5926 deaths on children under 5 years which the questionnaires were filled out, 63.2% were postneonatal deaths (1-11 month). Totally 60% of mortalities occurred in the rural areas and 52% of them had been among boys. The most common causes of mortality were the congenital and chromosomal abnormalities with 23.4%. The most incidences among diseases were respiratory system diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Carrying out more epidemiologic studies, providing health programs to control and prevent diseases with high incidences and delivering more specialized health facilities and services could be the proper strategies to reduce under 5 mortality rates in Iran.