title: A Case Control Study on Risk Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight Babies in Eastern Nepal.
abstract: Background. This study was done to assess the maternal and sociodemographic factors associated with low birth weight (LBW) babies. Methods. An unmatched case control study was done involving 159 cases (mothers having LBW singleton babies) and 159 controls (mothers having normal birth weight singleton babies). Results. More than 50% of LBW babies were from the mothers with height ≤145 cm while only 9.43% of NBW babies were from the mothers with that height. Finally, after multivariate logistic regression analysis, maternal height, time of first antenatal care (ANC) visit, number of ANC visits, iron supplementation, calcium supplementation, maternal education, any illness during pregnancy, and hypertension were found as the significant predictors of LBW. However, maternal blood group AB, normal maternal Body Mass Index (BMI), mother's age of 30 or more years, and starting ANC visit earlier were found to be protective for LBW. Conclusion. Study findings suggest that selectively targeted interventions such as delay age at first pregnancy, improving maternal education and nutrition, and iron and calcium supplementation can prevent LBW in Nepal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, National Medical College, Birgunj, Parsa 44300, Nepal.
authors.forename: Ravi Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.affiliation: HelpAge International, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal.
authors.forename: Krishna Kumar
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Deo
authors.affiliation: Research Triangle Institute International, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal.
authors.forename: Uttam
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Neupane
authors.affiliation: Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital, Birgunj, Parsa 44300, Nepal.
authors.forename: Subhadra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhary Bhaskar
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Sunsari 56700, Nepal.
authors.forename: Birendra Kumar
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Sunsari 56700, Nepal.
authors.forename: Hanoon P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Pokharel
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Sunsari 56700, Nepal.
authors.forename: Paras Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Pokharel