Abstract

VILLAFUERTE REINANTE, Yanet. Risk Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight. Cienfuegos Municipality. 2010-2014. Medisur [online]. 2016, vol.14, n.1, pp. 34-41. ISSN 1727-897X.

Background: reducing low birth weight is a priority in Cuba’s health policy since it is critical to reduce infant mortality. Objective: to identify the major risk factors associated with low birth weight in Cienfuegos municipality. Methods: a cross-sectional study involving all women who gave birth to low-birth-weight infants was conducted in Cienfuegos municipality from January 2010 through December 2014. Maternal age, maternal medical history, weight gain during pregnancy, nutritional assessment in early pregnancy, interpregnancy interval, gestational age at birth and pregnancy-related conditions were analyzed. Results: Four hundred fifty low-birth-weight infants were born. Hypertension as major illness in the maternal medical history was the main cause of maternal morbidity. In the obstetric history, an interpregnancy interval less than 2 years was frequently observed. It was demonstrated that the conditions mostly associated with pregnancy were vaginal infection, anemia and hypertension. Preterm infants predominated. Conclusions: the modification of these risk factors would have a favorable impact on the reduction of low birth weight.

Keywords : infant. low birth weight; risk factors; public health policy; maternal-child health services; infant mortality; perinatal care.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )