Original Articles
To determine the influence of maternal variables on the occurrence of low birth weight | |
Dr. Naveen Kumar Singh, Dr. Mahesh Uttamrao Garje | |
Aim: To determine the influence of maternal variables on the occurrence of low birth weight (LBW) deliveries in a community setting, focusing on factors such as maternal age, education, socioeconomic status, consanguinity, antenatal care, and maternal health conditions. Material and Methods: This prospective study included all deliveries that occurred during the study period, with a total of 700 births, of which 120 were identified as low birth weight (birth weight <2.5 kg). A pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule was used to gather detailed information from the mothers of LBW babies on various maternal factors including age, education, occupation, socioeconomic status, consanguinity, antenatal care (ANC) visits, height, and medical conditions. The study excluded mothers who were unresponsive after three consecutive visits or did not provide consent. Results: Among 700 total births, the prevalence of LBW was 17.14% (n=120), while 82.86% (n=580) were born with a normal birth weight. The majority of LBW cases were born to mothers aged 21-30 years (62.5%), with 33.33% of these mothers having only primary-level education and 50% belonging to the low socioeconomic class. Consanguineous marriages were noted in 25% of the cases. In terms of antenatal care, 8.33% of the mothers did not attend any ANC visits, while 41.67% had only 1-2 visits. Additionally, 50% of the mothers were anemic, and 41.67% had a height below 150 cm, both of which were associated with higher LBW rates. Conclusion: This study revealed a significant association between maternal factors such as low education, poor socioeconomic status, limited ANC visits, and medical conditions like anemia and hypertension with the occurrence of LBW deliveries. These findings suggest that addressing maternal health and improving socioeconomic conditions could help reduce the prevalence of LBW and improve neonatal outcomes. |
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