title: Assessment of maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight neonates at a tertiary hospital, Nanded, Maharashtra.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight (LBW) neonates at a tertiary hospital, Nanded, Maharashtra.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in Nanded city of Maharashtra between January 2014 and July 2014 among 160 cases (LBW-birth weight ≤2499 g) and 160 controls (normal birth weight-birth weight >2499. Data collection was done by using predesigned questionnaire and also related health documents were checked and collected the expected information during the interview after obtaining informed consent from mothers. The data were analyzed by Epi Info 7 Version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study found the significant association among gestational age, sex of baby, type of delivery, maternal age, religion, education of mother and husband, occupation of mother and husband, type of family, maternal height, weight gain, hemoglobin level, planned/unplanned delivery, bad obstetric history, interval between pregnancies, previous history of LBW, underlying disease, tobacco chewing, timing of first antenatal care (ANC) visit, total number of ANC visit, and iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets consumption with LBW. No significant association was found among maternal age, residence, caste, consanguinity of marriage, socioeconomic status, gravida, birth order, multiple pregnancy, and smoking with LBW in our study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that hemoglobin level, weight gain during pregnancy, gestational age, planned/unplanned delivery, bad obstetric history, and IFA tablets consumption during pregnancy were independent risk factors for LBW.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Vijay Kishanrao
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Domple
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Mohan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Doibale
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Abhilasha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Pinkesh S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rajput
keywords: Case–control study; gestational age; low birth weight; maternal risk factors; neonates; normal birth weight