Maternal Risk Factors of Low Birth Weight Infant at King Narai Hospital, Lopburi

Abstract

This is a retrospective descriptive study of the cases taking place between October 1^st 2008 and November 30^th 2009, by analyzing maternal risk factors of 2,274 cases of live birth infants at King Narai hospital. The study group was 240 cases of low birth weight infants and the control group was 2,034 cases of normal birth weight infants. Study result showed that preterm delivery (gestational age < 37 weeks) was the most significant risk factor (OR = 23.79, 95% CI = 17.15-33.02). The other risk factors were twin pregnancy (OR = 13.80, 95% CI = 7.04-27.18), ANC visits < 4 (OR = 5.83, 95% CI = 4.23-8.04), hypertension in mother (OR = 4.07, 95% CI = 2.57-6.45), maternal age < 20 (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.39-2.54) and nulliparous pregnancy (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.20-1.98). As a result, effective antenatal care should be encouraged. Prevention and effective inhibition of preterm delivery could reduce this problem.