Maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight

Area of Science:

• Maternal health
• Neonatal outcomes
• Public health interventions

Background:

• Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant global health concern.
• Maternal factors, including social, obstetric, and anthropometric, are known to influence birth outcomes.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective preventive strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between various maternal factors (social, obstetric, anthropometric) and the incidence of LBW.
• To identify specific risk factors contributing to LBW in the studied population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of maternal and neonatal data.
• Statistical methods to assess the correlation between maternal characteristics and LBW.
• Categorization of maternal factors into social, obstetric, and anthropometric groups.

Main Results:

• Obstetric factors (maternal age, parity, gravida) were significantly associated with LBW.
• Anthropometric factors (maternal height, maternal weight) also showed a significant association with LBW.
• No significant association was found between social factors and LBW in this cohort.

Conclusions:

• Maternal age, parity, gravida, height, and weight are key predictors of LBW.
• The lack of association with social factors may be attributed to the impact of specific interventions (RUHSA), warranting further investigation.
• Targeting obstetric and anthropometric factors in maternal care could help reduce LBW rates.