[Risk factors for low birthweight in a Cuban hospital, 1997-2000].
OBJECTIVE
To determine what maternal risk factors that are present during pregnancy are associated with low birthweight (less than 2 500 g).


METHODS
A case-control study was conducted with 764 products of single births weighing less than 2 500 g at birth, and 1 437 controls from Hospital Gineco-Obstétrico Provincial in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, during the 1997-2000 quadrennium. The data were obtained from clinical records, reports of labor, and personal interviews with mothers. A bivariate analysis was performed, and possible confounders were controlled for through dichotomous logistic regression using SPSS. A final multivariate statistical model used was to identify maternal risk factors for low birthweight.


RESULTS
The results of multivariate analysis showed a significant association between low birthweight, the presence of anemia when the pregnancy was detected, urinary tract infection during pregnancy, bronchial asthma, total maternal weight gain under 8 kg during pregnancy, smoking while pregnant, a history of previous children with low birthweight, arterial hypertension since before pregnancy, and inadequate timing of visit for follow-up of initial prenatal care.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of these results it was concluded that, regardless of the impact measurement method used, it is important to try to reduce the risk factors identified in the study in order to lower the incidence of low birthweight in the province of Sancti Spiritus.
Escobar
José Andrés Cabrales
JA
Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. cabrales@escambray.ssp.sld.cu
Darias
Luís Saenz
LS
Espinosa
Marcos Aurelio Grau
MA
Castañeda
Loreta De Rojas
Lde R
Herrera
Yipsis González
YG
García
Niurka Pina
NP
Rabelo
Marcelino Lizano
ML
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003462:Cuba; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections