LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED MATERNAL RISK FACTORS AT TERTIARY LEVEL HOSPITAL

Dr. Arti Patel; Dr. Rushi Patel

Volume : IV, Issue : IX, September - 2015

LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED MATERNAL RISK FACTORS AT TERTIARY LEVEL HOSPITAL

Dr. Arti Patel, Dr. Rushi Patel

Abstract :

Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) is responsible for 60% of the infant mortality in the first year of life and it carries a 40–fold increase in the risk of neonatal mortality during the first month. Since birth weight has a strong correlation with infant survival, attentions have been given to strategies that will reduce the proportion of infants with LBW. Objective: To identify the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) babies in year 2013–14 and associated maternal risk factors in tertiary level hospital. Material and Methods: In this prospective cross–sectional study, LBW babies were evaluated between April 2013 to March 2014 in tertiary level hospital. LBW was defined as babies weighing below 2500g and these babies constituted the study group. Maternal age, socio–economic status, educational status, height, any substance abuse, parity, frequency of antenatal visits, previous history of preterm delivery, multiple gestations, fetal presentation, medical conditions like anemia, hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders and placental anomalies were taken into consideration. Results: Out of 4805 live born babies, prevalence of LBW was 28.2%. The prevalence of preterm and full term was 18.1% and 10.1% respectively. Of the LBW babies, 64.2% were preterm, 35.8% were full term. Prevalence rate of LBW babies is higher in mothers below 20 and above 35 years of age, mothers belonging to lower socio–economic class, poorly educated mothers and mothers with history of smoking, tobacco chewing or any other substance abuse. Prevalence rate of LBW babies is also higher in primiparous and grand multi–para patients, patients with inadequate antenatal visits (<3 visits), patients having past history of preterm delivery, multiple gestation, non–cephalic fetal presentation, placental anomalies and patients with medical conditions like anemia, hypertension, diabetes and thyroid disorders. Conclusion: Extremes of maternal age (<20 and >35 years), lower socio–economic status, poor education, substance abuse, primiparity and grand multiparity, inadequate antenatal visits (<3), past history of preterm delivery, multiple gestation, non–cephalic presentation, medical conditions like anemia, hypertension, diabetes and thyroid disorders are important maternal risk factors related to LBW babies.