Socio-demographic determinants of Low Birth Weight in newborn: A case control Study.

Abstract

Background: There are many potential factors for low birth weight (LBW). Not that all the factors, should be present in a given area. The factors vary from one area to another, depending upon geographic, socioeconomic and cultural factors. Thus it is necessary to identify factors prevailing in a particular area responsible for low birth weight, so as to plan the strategy to tackle this important problem. Therefore present case control study is undertaken to estimate the socio-demographic determinants of babies with low birth weight and to identify the maternal risk factors associated with it . Objectives: T o study socio-demographic determinants of low birth weight among Low birth Weight newborn (cases) and normal weight newborn (controls) in a tertiary care hospital in central India. Methods: Hospital based case control study, to study socio-demographic determinants of LBW. Data was collected from 217 cases and 217 controls full-term, singleton live newborn delivered in study institute, matched for parity. Result: Association of rural residence (OR=2.82, 95% CI=1.79-4.43, P=0.0001), working status of mother (OR=2.45, 95% CI=1.08-5.68, P=0.0001), gender female (OR=2.61, 95% CI=1.77-3.84, P=0.0001) and gestational age 38 weeks (OR=2.43, 95% CI=1.58-3.72, P=0.0001) are highly significant. Nuclear type of family (OR=1.49, 95% CI=1.00-2.23, P=0.04) and birth interval less than 36 month (OR=1.72, 95% CI=0.98-3.02, P=0.044) is marginally significant with LBW. Association of bad obstetrics history with low birth weight like, abortion (OR=2.53, 95% CI=1.44-4.52, P=0.0005), still birth (OR=6, 95% CI=1.98-24.32, P=0.0003) and intra uterine death (OR=7.2, 95% CI=0.91-325.9, P=0.0323) were found to be significant. Association of co-morbid conditions/complications with low birth weight found in anaemia (OR=5.07, 95% CI=2.95-8.95, P=0.0001), pregnancy induced hypertension (OR=14.07, 95% CI=5.87-40.61, P=0.0001), anti partum haemorrhage (APH) (OR=10.21, 95% CI=4.67-25.33, P=0.0001), premature rupture of membrane (PROM) (OR=26.98, 95% CI=8.50-136.21, P=0.0001), malpresentation(OR=7.33, 95% CI=2.75-24.51, P=0.0001), eclampsia(OR=4.11, 95% CI=0.81-40.11, P=0.05) and oligohyramnios(OR=7.2, 95% CI=0.91-325.9, P=0.032). Conclusion: After multiple logistic regression, factors found significantly associated with low birth weight were Place of Residence, Gender, APH, Anaemia, Pre-eclampsia, PROM, Malpresentation, Stillbirth, Abortion and Eclampsia. Most of these factors are preventable with little intervention by strengthening maternal health services.