Maternal sociocultural status: a novel assessment of risk for the birth of small for gestational age, low birth weight infants.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the significance of material sociocultural status within the family as a risk factor for low birth weight-small for gestational age (LBW-SGA) births using a novel scoring system and also isolated related medical risk factors.


METHODS
A prospective matched pairs case control study of 396 LBW-SGA infants (cases) and 396 term, appropriate for gestational age infants (controls) was set up.


RESULTS
Low maternal sociocultural status (p = 0.02) was significantly associated with LBW-SGA births as were nonregistration for antenatal care (p = 0.001), maternal weight at delivery < 50 kg (p < 0.0001), antepartum hemorrhage/preeclampsia (p < 0.01), primigravidity and previous small baby (p <0001). Other risk factors included birth interval < 24 m (p < 0.001) and poor maternal or paternal education (p < 0.05). Conditional logistic regression identified maternal weight at delivery < 50 kg (OR 4.8, 95% C.I. 3.0-7.6), lack of antenatal care (OR 2.0, 95% C.I. 1.4-2.9), antepartum hemorrhage/preeclampsia (OR 4.3, 95% C.I. 1.7-10.8) and previous small baby (OR 4.3, 95% C.I. 2.1-8.9) as independent risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Low sociocultural status of the mother within the family is significantly associated with having a LBW-SGA baby. Further studies are warranted to study this risk factor.
Neonatology Department, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, Pakistan.
M A
MA
Arif
A H
AH
Qureshi
S N
SN
Jafarey
S E
SE
Alam
K
K
Arif
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D016015:Logistic Models; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors