Abstract

Background: Low birth weight is a major predictor of child mortality and morbidity. The objectives of this study were to determine the proportion and risk factors of low birth weight.
Methods: A matched case control study was conducted in Omdurman maternity hospital in Sudan. The study population was all babies delivered in August 2016 excluding stillbirths, multiple births and babies with insufficient data. All low-birth-weight neonates were selected using total coverage sampling as cases and matched on babies’ sex with randomly selected normal birth weight controls. The sample size was 350 babies; 175 cases and 175 controls. Data was collected from hospital records and six risk factors were tested; mother age, parity, gravidity, mode of delivery, hypertensive disorders and diabetes mellitus.
Results: The proportion of low birth weight was 10.8%. Bivariate analysis identified that younger mother age (p = .03) and hypertension (p = .02) were significantly associated with low birth weight while other factors were found statistically insignificant. Multivariable conditional logistic regression revealed that hypertensive disorders in pregnancy increases the risk for low birth weight almost three times (Adjusted OR = 2.98 [95%CI: 1.23 - 7.22], p = .02).
Conclusion: We found that the proportion of low birth weight is 10.8% and hypertension is an independent risk factor for low birth weight. The proportion of low birth weight can be reduced if hypertension is controlled by providing simple measures like proper antenatal care and health education for pregnant women.

Key words: Low Birth Weight, Risk Factors, Matched Case Control.