Regional characteristics of term pregnant women and the prevalence of low birth weight in Hainan Province, China

This single-center, cross-sectional study aimed to describe the demographic and obstetric characteristics of Hainan-native parturients and to determine the prevalence and associated factors of low birth weight (LBW) among term singleton births in this unique population. A total of 1,700 local women who delivered term singleton infants at Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center were enrolled, with maternal and neonatal data extracted from electronic medical records. The overall prevalence of term LBW was 3.4%. LBW was more common in women who were underweight before pregnancy (7.1%), adolescent mothers (<20 years, 13.3%), and those with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (12.3%). Female newborns had a higher LBW prevalence than males (4.7% vs. 2.2%), whereas LBW was less common in infants conceived via assisted reproductive technology (ART) (1.3%) compared to those from spontaneous conception (SC) (3.5%). These findings indicate that the prevalence of LBW among term infants in Hainan is associated with specific maternal and neonatal characteristics, providing valuable baseline data and insights for establishing a perinatal healthcare system well-suited to the regional demographic profile of Hainan Province.