TY - JOUR AU - Jain, KamleshKumar AU - Rana, Bhavik AU - Shukla, Rujul AU - Rathod, Vasu PY - 2022/07/31 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - A Study of Low Birth Weight and Associated Maternal Factors in A Rural Field Practice Area of a Medical College at Ahmedabad City of Gujarat JF - National Journal of Community Medicine JA - Natl J Community Med VL - 13 IS - 07 SE - Original Research Articles DO - 10.55489/njcm.130720222099 UR - https://www.njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/2099 SP - 473-477 AB - <p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In developed countries, about 50% of all Low-Birth-Weight new born are preterm. Low birth weight is also a leading cause of neonatal death and major risk factor for infant and under-five morbidity and mortality.</p><p><strong>Objectives:</strong> To find out prevalence of low birth weight&amp; to determine the association of socio-demographic variables, maternal medical and obstetric risk factors with low birth weight.</p><p><strong>Methodology:</strong> Across sectional community-based study was conducted in a rural field practice area of a medical college. A total of 600 participants (mothers who delivered within 3 months) were included in the study.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The prevalence of LBW was found to be 17% in the current study. Statistically significant association was obtained between age, education, occupation, socio-economic class of participants and birth weight of the child. The prevalence of LBW was found to be significantly high (51.7%) amongst children of those participants who consumed/used tobacco in any form.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The prevalence of the LBW was found to be 17%. Extremes of reproductive age group, illiteracy, occupation of labourer, SEC class IV, grand-multiparity, inadequate IFA consumption, short stature, weight of mother and use of tobacco were found to be significantly affecting the birth weight and associated with low birth weight.</p> ER -