Maternal Risk Factors Affecting Low Birth Weight in Rafsanjan Township in 2018: A Case Control Study

Low birth weight is one of the most widespread public health problems associated with high infant mortality. This study aimed to identify maternal risk factors affecting low birth weight neonates in Rafsanjan hospitals.

This case-control study consisted of 120 low birth weight infants (less than 2500 grams) as the case group and 120 normal weight infants (2500 grams and more) as controls in 2018. The data were collected by a randomized checklist from the records of the delivery mothers in the hospitals of Rafsanjan and were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test and logistic regression.

According to the results of the tests, the number of prenatal care and gestational age at birth was lower in the case group than in the control group, but the history of low birth weight was higher in the case group. Logistic regression for the history of low birth weight (OR=4.196, p=0.008) in the case group was more than the control and mean birth interval (OR=0.992, p=0.036) and gestational age at birth delivery (p<0.001, OR=0.61) was lower in the case group than in the control group.

Findings showed that low number of prenatal care, having low birth weight, preterm delivery, and low birth interval have a role in low birth weight. Therefore, increasing pregnancy care coverage and paying attention to mothers who have low birth weight and preterm birth and increasing the interval between births can decrease low birth weight infants.