Prevalence and risk factors for low birth weight in Yazd, Iran.
BACKGROUND
Low birth weight (LBW) is a major health problem and a significant contributor to neonatal death in both industrialised and developing countries. This study examined the prevalence and risk factors for LBW in Yazd, a central city of Iran.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated all births that were registered in all the maternity hospitals in Yazd, Iran in 2008. LBW neonates were compared with neonates whose birth weight exceeded 2,500 g.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of LBW was 8.8 percent. Univariate analysis using chi-square test showed that the risk factors associated with LBW were first and second pregnancies, teenage pregnancy, maternal diseases (pregnancy-induced hypertension, chronic hypertension and urinary tract infection), childbirth interval of less than three years, especially less than one year from the previous birth, preterm labour and working mothers. In multivariate analysis, preterm labour (odds ratio [OR] 5.2, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] 4.8-6.11), working mothers (OR 2.7, 95 percent CI 1.25-3.1) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR 1.5, 95 percent CI 1.2-2.22) were found to be risk factors for LBW.


CONCLUSIONS
Screening for high-risk pregnancies, such as teenage pregnancies and those with short birth intervals and maternal disease, as well as making provisions for attentive prenatal care and facilities are essential to reduce the incidence of LBW.
Department of Paediatrics, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Ave sina St, Shahid Ghandi Blvd, Yazd 8915887854, Iran.
M
M
Golestan
S
S
Akhavan Karbasi
R
R
Fallah
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001724:Birth Weight; D002423:Cause of Death; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002657:Child Development; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D047929:Term Birth; D014505:Urban Population