Maternal Age & Parity as Risk Factors for Preterm Births & Low Birth Weight among Newbornes Delivered in Outskirts of District Mirpurkhas

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the frequency of preterm births & low birth weight occurring in union council Jhudo, District Mirpurkhas. To seek association of preterm births & low birth weight with maternal age & parity.

Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional.

Place and duration of Study: This study was conducted at Union council Jhudo, District Mirpurkhas. From June 2012 to September  2012.

Materials and Methods: Three hundred households having a new born of age upto  seventy two hours. Subjects were selected through convenience sampling method.

Results: Among total of three hundred, the frequency of preterm births was 37 (12.33%); while the frequency of low birth weight was 83 (27.66%). All the preterm babies were low birth weight. There were 121 women (40.33%) at advanced age, among them preterm delivery was recorded in only 17 women (14.04%) (p=0.16). Low birth weight babies were delivered to 31 women at advanced maternal age (25.61%) (p=0.04). Among three hundred recently delivered women, 113 were primipara (37.66%) , 98 (32.66%) were multipara & 89 (29.66%) were grand multiparas. Primiparity was seen statistically significantly associated with low birth weight (0.02); and as parity increased, it did not show significant association with low birth weight.(p=0.12).

Conclusion: Low birth weight & preterm births are still major public health problems in our

community. The advanced maternal age & high parity are the risk factors for them in

rural & semi-urban areas.