Analysis of Maternal and Obstetric Factors Affecting Birth Weight of Newborn: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background and aim: Birth weight is an important child and maternal health indicator. Various maternal and obstetric factors are responsible for determining birth weight. If the birth weight of the newborn baby is less than 2,500 gm, the baby is considered a low birth weight (LBW) baby irrespective of the gestational age. The present study was conducted to determine the proportion of low birth weight babies among babies born at tertiary care hospitals and the association between maternal and obstetric factors and birth weight.
Material and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted from Sept. 2021 to Oct. 2021 among 350 mothers admitted to the postnatal ward after delivery and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were applied for analysis.
Results: In the present study, the proportion of LBW was 27.7%. In preterm (< 37 weeks) deliveries proportion of LBW was 64.4%. There was a significant association between low birth weight with gestational age, Iron and Folic Acid and calcium intake, Antenatal care visit, and birth interval. Association of low birth weight with the gender of the child, mode of delivery, maternal age, the height of the mother, maternal age at marriage, and parity was not significant.
Conclusions: Antenatal care (ANC) visit, iron and folic acid (IFA) and calcium intake, gestational age, and birth interval were important factors associated with low birth weight.