Title: Important Predictors of Low Birth Weight in Prenatal Care of Mothers
Authors: Dr Smiti Narain, Dr Hari Shanker Joshi, Dr Tanmay Prasad
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v10i1.28
Abstract
Low birth weight (LBW) has been defined by the World Health Organization as weight at birth of less than 2,500 grams. LBW is a prospective marker of future growth and development and a retrospective marker of mothers’ nutritional and health status and as sensitive index of nation’s health and development.
Objectives: The purpose of the study was to regroup the different risk factors in the LBW and arrange them for a better clinical utility tool.
Materials and Methods: Present study was a cross sectional type interviewing all mothers delivering live born singleton neonate in study place with pretested predesigned schedule. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software and chi square test.
Results: LBW was found to be more common in extremes of maternal age, mothers living in rural areas, mothers who were illiterate and belonged to lower socioeconomic class. LBW was more profound in primi para, mothers with inadequate antenatal visits, and mothers with past history of abortions, pre term babies and small for gestational age babies. LBW was more common in pregnant mothers taking less than 3 meals per day, not taking fruits, jaggery or Iron Folic acid. LBW was found to be more in mothers taking alcohol, smoking and doing heavy physical work during pregnancy.
Conclusion: The present study compiled the significant factors relating to LBW babies and tabulated them for better referential purposes and use it as a useful clinical tool.
Keywords: Low birth weight, predictors, antenatal.
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