Incidence and determinants of low birth weight in Syrian government hospitals.
The incidence and determinants of low birth weight were studied in a stratified sample of 10,585 deliveries at 18 Syrian government hospitals. For each low-birth-weight baby born, two normal-birth-weight babies were recruited as a comparison group. A questionnaire was given to mothers and clinical examinations were performed on the neonates. The incidence of low birth weight was 6.6%. It varied according to geographic region and hospital. The study confirmed that low birth weight could be the result of prematurity. Factors amenable to intervention, such as birth interval, maternal nutrition, maternal weight and smoking, appeared to have a role in low birth weight.
Wannous
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Reproductive Health Division, Ministry of Health, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
Arous
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D001721:Birth Intervals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005865:Gestational Age; D006076:Government; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013593:Syria / Q000453:epidemiology