Risk factors for low birth weight in Sana'a City, Yemen

Low birth weight (LBW) represents the third leading cause of death in children in Yemen, and is the most significant predictor of death, health, growth and development. The aim of this study was to estimate the birth weight distribution and prevalence of low birth weights in Sana'a City of Yemen, and to determine some of the contributing risk factors.

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to study women who delivered in the four main hospitals in Sana'a City during the study period. Respondents were 2256 mothers ranging in age from 14-45 years, with a mean age of 29.55 years. The mean age at the time of marriage was 22.38 years. Anthropometric measurements and interviews were used to determine the risk factors. The birth weights and anthropometric measurements of all babies born alive to mothers interviewed in the four hospitals during the period were collected. Post-delivery weight and other measurements of respondents were also collected. The data collected were entered into a computer using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).

The mean birth weight of the newborns in the study was 2812 g. Twenty-two percent of the newborns weighed between 700 and 2499 g. About 39% of respondents had urinary tract infection while 29% suffered from anemia, and 10% had bleeding during pregnancy. All anthropometric measurements were significantly associated with LBW.

Mothers who were younger in age at their first delivery, had low post-delivery weight, and bled during pregnancy, were more likely to have LBW babies. There is a need for national prospective research project to study the low birth weight problem at the national level. There is also a need to discourage teenage pregnancies and to encourage utilization of mother and child health services, and treat concomitant illnesses during pregnancy.