Risk factors associated to low weight at birth in the province of Matanzas. 2013

Abstract

Background: low weight at birth is a preoccupation around the world. Child weight at birth is one of the most useful indicators to evaluate prenatal care results and the infantile survival. In an analysis carried out in the period 2010-2012 in the province of Matanzas, the infantile mortality rate is increasing, as much as the low weight at birth one, and there have not been carried out recent research on the risk facts.  
Method: We made an observational, case analytic and control study in the province of Matanzas in 2013 to identify the risk factors associated to low weight at birth. The dependent variable was low weight at birth and as independent ones we considered socio-demographic risk factors, before-pregnancy and pregnancy-dependent medical risk factors, and toxic habits.   To collect data we used an enquiry worked out by the authors. We calculated summed up measures for quantitative variables, and to measure the association force we used the disparity ratio with a 95 % confidence interval and p< 0,05. The resulting variables associated to low weight at birth were analyzed in logistic regression of the Epi 2000 program.
Outcomes: the risk facts identified by their significant association with low weight at birth were also the most important for the preventive work and were: preterm childbirth, vaginal sepsis, hypertensive disease in pregnancy and insufficient weight gain during pregnancy.