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Factors associated with term low birthweight in Cardiff, Wales
P J Meis1, R Michielutte, T J Peters
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1066, USA.
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Low birth weight in term infants (TLBW) is linked to maternal weight, pre-eclampsia, smoking, and other factors. Only smoking cessation offers a potential intervention to reduce TLBW risk.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Perinatal Epidemiology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Impaired fetal growth, particularly term low birth weight (TLBW), is a significant concern in perinatal health.
- Identifying modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between various risk factors and the incidence of term low birth weight (TLBW).
- To determine the relative importance of identified risk factors in a large, homogeneous population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Cardiff Births Survey database, comprising largely homogeneous (white) births in Wales.
- Employed multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess independent associations with TLBW.
Main Results:
- Significant independent risk factors for TLBW, in decreasing order of magnitude, included low maternal weight, pre-eclampsia, smoking, short maternal height, late and early pregnancy bleeding, previous stillbirth, primiparity, and older maternal age.
- Demographic, medical, and social factors were all associated with increased TLBW risk.
Conclusions:
- Multiple factors contribute to the risk of term low birth weight (TLBW).
- Of the identified risk factors, only smoking cessation presents a viable target for public health intervention to reduce TLBW incidence.
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