A study of epidemiological factors affecting low birth weight

Abstract

Abstract. About half of all deaths in perinatal period aredirectly or indirectly related to low birth. A multifactorialinter-relationship exists between the pregnant mother’s environment and growthof fetus. There are numerous factors associated with low birth weight and ifthese factors are detected early and addressed properly, the low birth weightand the consequences thereof can be reduced. Toidentify the epidemiological factors affecting low birth weight in our set up.Thisa cross sectional study. August 2010 to July 2011. Atotal of 500 recently delivered mothers with alive born babies.Chi-square test was used in statistical analyses. Maternal age, socioeconomic and educational status,interpregnancy interval and number of antenatal visits along with maternal anemia,hypertension and urinary tract infection, during pregnancy were significantlyassociated with low birth weight. Proper health education along withover all socioeconomic development, are the very important steps to be taken todecrease the incidence of low birth weight.Key words: Low birth weight, epidemiological factors, morbid factors

Keywords

• Low birth weight, epidemiological factors, morbid factors

References

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