Maternal socio-economic factors and the risk of low birth weight in Lithuania.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the importance of maternal socio-economic factors on the risk of low birth weight in Lithuania.


METHODS
The case-control study involved 851 newborns with low birth weight (<2500 g) (cases) and 851 newborns with normal weight (controls). Study was accomplished from 1st February, 2001 until 31st October, 2002 in six main maternity hospitals in Lithuania. Mothers of infants were interviewed on the first day after delivery using the structured questionnaire. The database was processed by the application of statistical package "SPSS for Windows v.10.0".


RESULTS
Young (<20 years) and older (35 years and older) maternal age, primary or basic education, being single, divorced or widowed, low income, living in rural area and unemployment before pregnancy and during pregnancy increased the risk to deliver low birth weight baby in univariate analysis. In logistic multivariable regression analysis, low education, low income and unemployment during pregnancy significantly increased risk of low birth weight--OR - 2.0, 1.7 and 1.6 respectively. Interaction between several unfavorable risk factors increased risk of low birth weight by 3.4-7.8 times, being the highest among mothers with low education, unstable marital status and low income.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal unfavorable socio-economic factors increased the risk to deliver low birth weight baby.
Dickute
Jolanta
J
Department of Preventive Medicine, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 4, 50166 Kaunas, Lithuania. djolanta@centras.lt
Padaiga
Zilvinas
Z
Grabauskas
Vilius
V
Nadisauskiene
Rūta Jolanta
RJ
Basys
Vytautas
V
Gaizauskiene
Aldona
A
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008097:Lithuania; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014478:Unemployment