Relationship Between the Absence of Adequate Social Support During Pregnancy and Low Birth Weight

Low birth weight is defined as the infant weighing less than 2500 grams; its origins are multifactorial and its prevalence at the global and national levels is between 4.8% and 9% respectively. Lack of social support has been emphasised as one of the risk factors that may have a high correlation with the occurrence of low birth weight.

To determine the relationship between the absence of social support during pregnancy and low birth weight.

Case-control study in a population of 420 selected mothers in a tertiary hospital from November 2015 to July 2017. In these mothers, an instrument was applied that included sociodemographic variables and validated scales that evaluate social support and coping strategies. For the data analysis, logistic, psychological, biological and social regression models were developed, with variables for a history of vaginosis, living in rural areas, nulliparity, and inadequate social support; which were identified as having the greatest relationship with low birth weight.

In the final logistic regression model we found that the absence of social support increases the chance of low birth weight by 3.59 fold (OR=4.59; 95%CI, 2.27-9.27; P<.01). Another significant variable was nulliparity.

The findings support the hypothesis that the absence of adequate social support during gestation is related to low birth weight.