OBJECTIVES

LBW is the strong determinant of neonatal morbidity and mortality with a global prevalence of nearly 15%. India's prevalence, though not yet established, ranges from 16-30% and influenced by maternal nutritional status, antenatal care and associated maternal morbidity. Hence, the study was aimed to determine the influencing parameters for occurrence of LBW.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective observational study conducted for all live newborns delivered in a tertiary care centre during the study period of twenty four months.

METHODS

Data from institutional medical record section was recorded on predesigned questionnaire from a total of 1216 newborns.

RESULTS

The percentage of LBW was found to be 27.55% (335/1216) with a proportion of LBW to NBW babies was approximately 1:3. The occurrence of LBW was significantly higher in babies of anemic mothers (59.39%, < 0.0001), young mothers (30.39%, < 0.01), mothers with parity ≥ 3 (35.71%, < 0.05), those with <3 ANC check-up (56.88%, < 0.0001) and those with premature delivery (71.57%, < 0.0001). Maternal anemia (OR 4.7, 95%CI 3.4-6.7, < 0.001); ANC with <3 visits (OR 2.2, 95%CI 1.4-3.4, < 0.01) and prematurity (OR 7.6, 95%CI 5.1-11.2, < 0.0001) were considered as independent risk factor for LBW. Significant association of neonatal complications was found with LBW babies (OR 1.6, 95%CI 1.1-2.5, < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Inadequate antenatal care, maternal anemia and other maternal illness causing premature delivery are considered critical determinants for LBW and thus associated with high neonatal mortality and morbidity. Continued focus for improving the overall maternal health status would lead to lowering burden of LBW.