Low bitthweight and its correlation with maternal factors

Abstract

Objective: To verify the influence of maternal factors in the incidence of low birthweight. Methodology: The sample population was constituted of biological mothers and their children <1 year of age assisted in 5 useful days in the 22 health units of the Municipal district of Maringá, in 1998, a total of 587 individuals. It was considered LBW (low birthweight) all children weighting <2500g (WHO), the anemic ones with Hb <11.0 g/dL, and mothers with Hb <11.9 g/dL. Results: Among the mothers 14.8% were anemic, and for the children this percentile was of 58.0%. Chronic malnutrition was high especially on the children from 0 to 3 months born with low weight. The significant variables related with LBW were: the weight gain during gestation <=9kg (OR=2.77, p=0.0082), the mother's age <20 years (OR=2.49, p=0.0401) and the tobacco for the mothers that smoked more than 5 cigarette/day (OR=3.39, p=0.0333). Conclusions: Although the LBW index in the studied population presents a percentile similar to the developed countries, it is recommended the implementation of a prenatal service for women at risk, in order to reduce such event which affects the children, hindering their growth and increasing the risk of anemia.