ANALYSIS OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MATERNAL AGE AND GESTATIONAL AGE TO LOW BIRTHWEIGHT BABY

Birth weight is one of the most critical determinants of neonatal survival, long-term development, and overall child health. Low Birth Weight (LBW), defined as <2.5 kg irrespective of gestational age, remains a major public health concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the association between maternal age, gestational period, and the birth weight of newborns. A total of 1000 deliveries recorded between August 2019 and January 2020 at Dr. Panjabrao alias Bhausaheb Deshmukh Memorial Medical College, Amravati, were analyzed. Maternal age groups were categorized into four class intervals, and neonatal weight into three categories. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA indicated significant association between maternal age and birth weight, whereas gestational age do not showed a significant influence on birth weight, with lower gestational periods directly contributing to LBW incidence. The study confirms that gestational duration is a major determinant of neonatal birth weight, while maternal age alone does not significantly affect LBW outcomes.