Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Birth Weight in Shahroud in 2013-2015

Background: One of the most important causes of neonatal death is their low birth weight (LBW) (less than 2500 grams). LBW has a lot of risk factors and will cause physical, mental, and growth problems in the future. Concerning the importance of the issue, this study aimed to determine the prevalence rate and risk factors of LBW in Shahroud, Iran. Methods: In a cross-sectional research, all mothers who had given birth at Bahar hospital from 2013 to 2015 were recruited in the study. The information of the mothers and neonates was extracted from their records. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 and t-test and Chi-square tests. Results: A total of 6677 mothers were enrolled in the study. The mean age of mothers was 27.20±5.43. Further, %4.8 of newborn babies had weights equal to or less than 2500 grams. There was a significant relationship between low birth weight and the mothers who were under 18 years, maternal addiction, and type of delivery (Pvalue=0.001). Also, there was a significant relationship between preterm labor and prevalence of LBW, and the need to revive and hospitalization of baby in NICU (Pvalue=0.001). Conclusions: The infants' health is one of the main factors determining the quality of health services in a community. Since the rate of LBW is still high, and this leads to numerous problems for both family and society, preventive measures are recommended.