A Study to Assess the Maternal Factors Leading to Low Birth Weight Babies in Selected Hospitals of Pune-India

Abstract

Background: The birth weight of an infant is the single most important determinate of its chances of the survival, health growth and development.

Objectives: Assessment of maternal factors leading to low birth weight babies and Associate it with some demographic variable of the babies.

Methodology: Non-experimental exploratory survey research was conducted in Jun 20^th  to Dec 31^st 2011 in India. A Non-probability convenient sample consists of 100 postnatal mothers who delivered low birth weight babies were selected from Pune Hospitals. The tool used for data collection is a structured questionnaire consisted from two sections: 1- Maternal factors and 2- Demographic variables. Content validity of the tools determined by a panel of experts. Reliability was determined by rational equivalence test. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.

Results: The results of current study reveals that there were high significant association between medicines taken during pregnancy with gestational age, a significant association between maternal factors like weight gain during pregnancy with gestational age, a significant association between maternal factors like iron and folic acid during pregnancy with gestational age. There is no significant association among other factors.

Conclusion: Researcher concluded that maternal factors (Personal, Biological, Nutritional, History of disease, Psychological and Social factors) can affect the weight of the babies.

Recommendations: Further studies need to be conducted among antenatal and postnatal women.