Download PDF
Am J Perinatol 2022; 39(12): 1362-1366
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722599
Original Article

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Short-Term Outcomes of Full-Term Low Birth Weight Infants Born at a Tertiary Academic Center: A Prospective Case–Control Study

Heidi K. Al-Wassia 
1   Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
,
Shahd K. Baarimah
2   School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
,
Asmaa H. Mohammedsaleh
2   School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
,
Manal O. Alsulami
2   School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
,
Ragad S. Abbas
2   School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
,
Raghad A. Rezqallah
2   School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
,
Raghda A. Alawadi
2   School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
,
Saja M. Aljohani
2   School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
› Further Information
Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objective Low birth weight (LBW) infants (<2,500 g) continued to be a global health problem because of the associated short- and long-term adverse outcomes. The study aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and short-term outcomes of term LBW infants

Study Design A prospective and case–control study. All infants born consecutively from September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2019 were included. Cases, term LBW infants, were 1:1 matched to controls, appropriate for gestational age (AGA) term infants. Major congenital or chromosomal anomalies and multiple pregnancies were excluded.

Results The prevalence of term LBW in the studied period was 4.8%. Mothers of term LBW infants had significantly lower body mass index (p = 0.05), gained less weight (p = 0.01), had a history of previous LBW (p = 0.01), and lower monthly income (p = 0.04) compared with mothers of term AGA infants even after adjustment for confounders. A nonsignificant higher number of term LBW infants needed NICU admission, while their need for phototherapy was deemed significant.

Conclusion We identified nutritional and socioeconomic maternal factors that are significantly associated with LBW infants and should be targeted during antenatal visits to improve neonatal outcomes.

Key Points

  • LBW infants (<2,500 g) are at risk of short- and long-term morbidities.

  • Poor maternal nutritional and socioeconomic factors increase the risk of LBW infant.

  • Targeting identified risk factors of LBW infant antenatally improve neonatal outcomes

Keywords

term infant - low birth weight - risk factors


Publication History

Received: 15 October 2020

Accepted: 02 December 2020

Article published online:
06 January 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

  • References

  • 1 WHO. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1992
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Global Nutrition Targets 2025: Low birth weight policy brief. WHO/NMH/NHD/14.5: World Health Organization; 2014
    Google Scholar
  • 3 Blencowe H, Krasevec J, de Onis M. et al. National, regional, and worldwide estimates of low birthweight in 2015, with trends from 2000: a systematic analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2019; 7 (07) e849-e860
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Yadav DK, Shukla GS, Gupta N, Shrestha N, Singh A, Kaphle HP. Maternal and obstetric factors associated with low birth weight. J Nepal Health Res Counc 2020; 17 (04) 443-450
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Mumbare SS, Maindarkar G, Darade R, Yenge S, Tolani MK, Patole K. Maternal risk factors associated with term low birth weight neonates: a matched-pair case control study. Indian Pediatr 2012; 49 (01) 25-28
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Chen S, Yang Y, Qu Y. et al. Both maternal and paternal risk factors for term singleton low birthweight infants in rural Chinese population: a population-based, retrospective cohort study. Sci Rep 2018; 8 (01) 12539
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Sania A, Smith ER, Manji K. et al. Neonatal and infant mortality risk associated with preterm and small for gestational age births in Tanzania: individual level pooled analysis using the intergrowth standard. J Pediatr 2018; 192: 66-72.e4
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Gu H, Wang L, Liu L. et al. A gradient relationship between low birth weight and IQ: A meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2017; 7 (01) 18035-18035
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Risnes KR, Vatten LJ, Baker JL. et al. Birthweight and mortality in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Epidemiol 2011; 40 (03) 647-661
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Jornayvaz FR, Vollenweider P, Bochud M, Mooser V, Waeber G, Marques-Vidal P. Low birth weight leads to obesity, diabetes and increased leptin levels in adults: the CoLaus study. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2016; 15: 73
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Spong CY. Defining “term” pregnancy: recommendations from the defining “term” pregnancy workgroup. JAMA 2013; 309 (23) 2445-2446
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 al-Eissa YA, Ba'Aqeel HS, Haque KN. Low birthweight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: incidence and risk factors. Ann Trop Paediatr 1991; 11 (01) 75-82
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Mvunta MH, Mboya IB, Msuya SE, John B, Obure J, Mahande MJ. Incidence and recurrence risk of low birth weight in Northern Tanzania: a registry based study. PLoS One 2019; 14 (04) e0215768
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Chen Y, Li G, Ruan Y, Zou L, Wang X, Zhang W. An epidemiological survey on low birth weight infants in China and analysis of outcomes of full-term low birth weight infants. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2013; 13: 242
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Demelash H, Motbainor A, Nigatu D, Gashaw K, Melese A. Risk factors for low birth weight in Bale zone hospitals, South-East Ethiopia : a case-control study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2015; 15: 264
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Sharma SR, Giri S, Timalsina U. et al. Low birth weight at term and its determinants in a tertiary hospital of Nepal: a case-control study. PLoS One 2015; 10 (04) e0123962
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Li X, Zhang W, Lin J. et al. Preterm birth, low birthweight, and small for gestational age among women with preeclampsia: does maternal age matter?. Pregnancy Hypertens 2018; 13: 260-266
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Anjum F, Javed T, Afzal MF, Sheikh GA. Maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight: a case control study. Annals of King Edward Medical University. 2011; 17: 223
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Balarajan Y, Subramanian SV, Fawzi WW. Maternal iron and folic acid supplementation is associated with lower risk of low birth weight in India. J Nutr 2013; 143 (08) 1309-1315
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Pasricha SR, Drakesmith H, Black J, Hipgrave D, Biggs BA. Control of iron deficiency anemia in low- and middle-income countries. Blood 2013; 121 (14) 2607-2617
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Nagargoje MM, Chaudhary SS, Deshmukh JS, Gupta SC, Misra SK. A case control study of risk factors for low birth weight in Nagpur City of Maharashtra. Indian J Community Health 2011; 23: 4-7
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Wataba K, Mizutani T, Wasada K, Morine M, Sugiyama T, Suehara N. Impact of prepregnant body mass index and maternal weight gain on the risk of pregnancy complications in Japanese women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2006; 85 (03) 269-276
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Habib MA, Greenow CR, Ariff S. et al. Factors associated with low birthweight in term pregnancies: a matched case-control study from rural Pakistan. East Mediterr Health J 2018; 23 (11) 754-763
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Talie A, Taddele M, Alemayehu M. Magnitude of low birth weight and associated factors among newborns delivered in Dangla Primary Hospital, Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia, 2017. J Pregnancy 2019; 2019: 3587239
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Koistinen HA, Koivisto VA, Andersson S. et al. Leptin concentration in cord blood correlates with intrauterine growth. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997; 82 (10) 3328-3330
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Ko TJ, Tsai LY, Chu LC. et al. Parental smoking during pregnancy and its association with low birth weight, small for gestational age, and preterm birth offspring: a birth cohort study. Pediatr Neonatol 2014; 55 (01) 20-27
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Cai C, Vandermeer B, Khurana R. et al. The impact of occupational shift work and working hours during pregnancy on health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019; 221 (06) 563-576
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Choudhary AK, Choudhary A, Tiwari SC, Dwivedi R. Factors associated with low birth weight among newborns in an urban slum community in Bhopal. Indian J Public Health 2013; 57 (01) 20-23
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Amos RC, Jacob H, Leith W. Jaundice in newborn babies under 28 days: NICE guideline 2016 (CG98). Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed 2017; 102 (04) 207-209
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar