The Impact of Demographic and Delivery Factors on Low- and Normal-Weight Infants

Background & Objective: The birth weight is an essential indicator of a baby's health. The birth of infants with low birth weight (LBW) is one of the most significant health issues and one of the leading causes of infant mortality. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of demographic and delivery factors on low- and normal-weight infants.Materials & Methods: The current retrospective study collected data from all ۲,۷۳۱ babies born in Basra in ۲۰۲۲ and their mothers from electronic files. The data consists of demographic information and delivery factors. Babies were divided into two groups based on their weight: LBW (n=۱۹۲) and normal (n=۷۶۸). Data analysis was performed with SPSS version ۱۹ and the chi-square, Fisher, Mann-Whitney, and logistic regression tests. The level of statistical significance was determined to be equal to ۰.۰۵.Results: The results showed that the variable of intrauterine age less than ۳۷ weeks increases the risk of having a baby with LBW by ۱.۸۴ times (۰.۹۵CI=۰.۵۲-۳.۱۲), age less than ۲۰ years increases the risk by ۱.۷۶ times (۰.۹۵CI=۰.۸۳-۲.۶۴), BMI in the thin range increases the risk by ۱.۴۲ times (۰.۹۵CI=۰.۸۷-۱.۸۴), and anemia with hemoglobin less than ۱۱ g/dl increases the risk by ۱.۳۴ times (۰.۹۵CI=۰.۷۶-۱.۸۶).Conclusion: The results revealed that age, BMI, anemia, and intrauterine age impact birth weight. Therefore, controlling the risk factors mentioned above in mothers before becoming pregnant can reduce the number of LBW babies.