Maternal Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight in Kashmar, Iran

Low birth weight is one of the most important reasons for neonatal mortality. Increased rate of low birth weight over the past five years in Kashmar has highlighted the importance of controlling and preventing this condition to reduce its incidence. This study was conducted to measure the frequency of some maternal factors affecting the incidence of neonatal low birth weight.

This cross-sectional study was carried out on all mothers who gave birth to neonates weighing less than 2,500g from 2015 to 2016 in Kashmar (n=327). To collect the data a self-structured and valid and reliable questionnaire using closed-ended interview questions was employed. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 11) using descriptive and analytical statistics.

Based on the results, neonatal weight had a relationship with maternal factors including history of hypertension, preeclampsia, infertility, the use of assisted reproductive techniques, and self-medication (p <0.05). Moreover, the family income had a significant relationship with neonatal weight gain (P=0.01).

It is recommended to adopt some measures to reduce the rate of low-birth-weight. Among such measures paying attention to the lower-income groups, providing pregnancy care packages, maternal training for not self-medicating, and devoting more concern to disease preventive behaviors, such as proper control of blood pressure during pregnancy is suggested.