A prospective study on some factors which influence the delivery of low birth weight babies in a developing country
Lawoyin, T.O.; Oyediran, A.B.
African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 21(1): 33-39
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0309-3913 PMID: 1288241 Document Number: 390961
The study was prospective in design and carried out in Ibadan, Nigeria. It was undertaken in order to provide more information on the low birth weight (LBW) deliveries seen here and to evaluate some factors associated with these births. 600 randomly selected gravid women who presented to the antenatal booking clinics for the first time in their pregnancy were followed up till delivery of their babies. Data on 492 women who produced normal, singleton births were analyzed. The mean birth weight was 3167 g +or- 451 g (males: 3205 g +or- 469 g; females: 2991 g +or- 468 g). The incidence of low birth weight of 2500 g and less was 8.3% and consisted of 18 males, 22 females, and 1 unknown sex. 80% of these LBW babies were term (37-41 weeks gestation) at delivery, while 20% were preterm (37 weeks). There was seasonal variation in the incidence of LBW, the risk being highest during the peak of the dry season and lowest during the rainy season. Mother's age, parity, height, ponderal index at delivery, and total maternal weight gain, as well as birth interval, were each significantly related to the incidence of LBW in these mothers (p 0.01). Maternal education, as well as socioeconomic class, were not significant (p 0.5).