Study of low birth weight infants in the coastal areas of Udupi Taluk, Karnataka, South India

Abstract EN

The pattern of low birth weight was studied among babies born at six Rural Maternity and Child Welfare (RMCW) homes from July 1985 to June 1989 in the eoastal areas 0، Udupi taluk, Karnataka State, India.

Delivery reeords of singleton liveborn babies only were analysed, with reference to the age of the mother, parity, gestational age, religion, sex of the babies and birth weight.

Out of the 4,498 infants born during the study period 602 (13.3 %) were of Low Birth Weight (LBW) and only 18 (0.4 %) were of Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW).

The incidence of LBW among teenage and primipara mothers was found to be 19.3% and 16.8 % respeetively and it declined significantly with increase in age and parity of the mothers (PcO.OOl).

The LBW rate was found to be inversely related to the period of gestation (r = 0.34, p<0.05).

There was no statistical significant difference in incidence of LBW between male and female babies, or among different religions.