Maternal Sociodemographic Characteristics, Pregnancy History, and Current Pregnancy of Infants With Low Birth Weight: A Case-Control Study

Background and aims: Low birth weight (LBW) remains a serious cause of infant mortality in Indonesia, contributing to 34.5% of deaths in 2021. Nationally, 3.1% of newborns were classified as LBW in 2020, while Banten Province reported a lower prevalence of 1.7%. LBW is associated with higher risks of childhood illness, developmental delays, malnutrition, and infection. Moreover, maternal sociodemographic factors, reproductive history, and pregnancy conditions, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), may influence LBW outcomes. Thus, this study examined the association of these factors with LBW at Banten Provincial General Hospital. Methods: An analytic observational study with a case-control design was conducted among mothers who delivered at Banten Provincial General Hospital, Indonesia, between January 2021 and December 2022. The cases included 51 mothers of LBW infants (<2500 g) who were recruited through total sampling, while controls comprised 51 mothers of normal birth weight infants randomly selected and matched by delivery month. Independent variables investigated in this study were maternal sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy history, and current pregnancy conditions. The data were extracted from medical records and finally analyzed using chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression (P<0.05). Results: Overall, COVID-19 infection during pregnancy was significantly associated with LBW (odds ratio 3.67, P=0.018). However, other maternal characteristics and pregnancy-related factors demonstrated no significant associations (P>0.05). Conclusion: Maternal COVID-19 infection is a serious risk factor for LBW, underscoring the need for enhanced monitoring and preventive strategies for pregnant women during infectious disease outbreaks.