Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and determinants of low birth weight (LBW) babies in the allied hospitals of Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC).
Methodology: In this cross sectional survey, a total of 120 mothers coming to Allied Hospitals of RMC, having babies up to the age of 6 months were enrolled by purposive sampling. Data were collected by a semi structured questionnaire, which asked information from mothers regarding their education, socioeconomic class and occupation. Questions were also asked about last child birth such as frequency of antenatal visits during that pregnancy, risk factors during pregnancy like hypertension, pallor, duration of pregnancy at time of delivery. Data were analyzed using SPSS v. 21.
Results: Frequency of LBW babies was found to be 27.4%. 10.83% mothers were educated up to graduate and above and 32% belonged to low socioeconomic class. 11.6% mothers had taken no antenatal visits. 31.6% mothers had hypertension, which was found to be a major factor determining LBW (p≤0.00001). 8.3% children born were premature. Prematurity was significantly related with LBW (p≤ 0.0001).
Conclusion: LBW was high in low socioeconomic class and was significantly related with premature births and hypertension in mother during pregnancy.

Key words: Low birth weight, determinants, hypertension, pregnancy