Analysis of factors influencing low birth weight incidence
Keywords:
anemia, antenatal care, gemelli, low birth weight, maternal risk factorAbstract
Low birth weight (LBW) remains a major maternal and child health problem because it increases neonatal morbidity, mortality, and long-term developmental risk. Maternal age, parity, pregnancy spacing, gestational age, anemia, nutritional status, chronic disease, and twin pregnancy may contribute to LBW, but local evidence is needed to guide primary health care prevention. Objective: This study analyzed factors associated with LBW incidence in the working area of the Dambalo Public Health Center. Methods: This study used an analytic retrospective case-control design based on secondary maternal and newborn records from three urban public health centers in Dambalo. The accessible population consisted of 93 delivery records. Records with complete data were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 66 analyzable records. Cases were newborns with birth weight below 2,500 g, and controls were newborns with birth weight of 2,500 g or higher. Data were collected using a structured checklist from maternal cohort registers and maternal-child health books. Data analysis used univariate analysis, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results: Bivariate analysis showed that gestational age was associated with LBW (p = 0.009). Parity (p = 1.000), maternal age (p = 0.292), pregnancy spacing (p = 0.588), anemia (p = 0.205), nutritional status (p = 1.000), chronic disease or preeclampsia history (p = 1.000), and twin pregnancy (p = 0.087) did not reach statistical significance in bivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis identified twin pregnancy as the dominant factor associated with LBW (p = 0.029), while anemia remained clinically important but did not meet the conventional significance threshold (p = 0.188). Conclusion: Twin pregnancy was the strongest factor associated with LBW in this dataset. Prevention should prioritize early risk screening, anemia control, nutritional monitoring, and focused antenatal care for multiple pregnancy.
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