A Study of Maternal Factors Associated with Very Low Birth Weight in Neonates

Background: Birth weight is not only a critical determinant of child survival, growth and development but also a valuable indicator of maternal health, nutrition and quality of life. Low Birth Weight is closely associated with fetal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the maternal factors responsible for Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) newborn. Objective: To study the maternal factors influencing very low birth weight babies. Design: Prospective Case Control Study. Setting: SNCU (Inborn unit), Department of Paediatrics, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar. Participants: All Newborns delivered in SHKBM Hospital, Jhalawar medical college and admitted in SNCU (Special Newborn Care Unit) with birth weight less than 1500 Gms irrespective of gestational age over a period of one year were included in the study as cases. Healthy babies (with birth weight > 2.5 kg) which were born on same day as of case were randomly selected in ratio of 1:1 as controls. Main Outcome Measure(s): Maternal factors taken into consideration were: Age, Parity, Birth interval, Height and Weight of the mother, Mid arm circumference, Literacy of the mother, Family structure, Mother’s occupation, Per capita income, Antenatal visits, Maternal diseases during the antenatal period and Bad obstetric history. Neonatal factors taken into consideration were: weight, sex and gestational age. Results: Out of 112 cases, 86 were preterm appropriate for gestational age, 11 were term small for gestational age and 15 were preterm small for gestational age. Maternal factors like birth intervals, maternal weight, mid arm circumference, literacy, income, antenatal visits and bad obstetric history were significantly related whereas maternal age distribution, parity, mother’s height, family structure, mother’s occupation and maternal diseases had no significant relation to Very Low Birth Weight in the newborns. Conclusions: In our study, the incidence of VLBW was found to be associated with maternal factors like less birth intervals, low maternal weight, less mid arm circumference, illiteracy, low per capita income, less antenatal check-up visits and bad obstetric history. Health education and antenatal care are of utmost importance to prevent low birth weight in newborns.