Maternal Age and Low Birth Weight in Sindh Province: A Cross Sectional Survey

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between maternal age and low birth weight.

Study Design: Cross sectional survey

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the various Neonatal Wards in Sindh province over a period of 9 months from January 2021 to September 2021.

Materials and Methods: Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, mothers of the 430 neonates were interviewed and birth weight of neonates was measured at the neonatal ward.

Results: Most of the mothers 254 (59.1%) were aged between 21 to 30 years. Mothers’ age was observed to have significant association with low birth weight. Mothers aged between 21-30 years had 15.29 times higher odds of having low birth weight neonates with (p-value 0.041 95% CI: 0.42 – 107.11).

Conclusion: The study observed that mothers had a higher likelihood to conceive at younger age. It was concluded the younger age mothers had greater tendency to deliver low birth weight neonates.