Prevalence of low birth weight in Howrah

Background: Developing countries, specially in India has been constantly facing the problem of Low Birth Weight (LBW) since long. Low birth weight in the Asian countries prevail predominantly because of undernutrition in women prior to and during pregnancy. The second most important factor is also the age of the mother. Even today in many sectors of the Indian society, girls are neglected and deprived of proper nutrition and they are married off at an early age resulting in early motherhood. About 50% of the women in India still suffer from =severe anaemia and we have the highest number of maternal deaths too (Muthayya et al., 2006). Objective: This study has been undertaken in the district of Howrah to find out the prevalence of Low Birth Weight in Howrah, to determine the factors and distribution of Low Birth Weight. Data were collected from Howrah District Hospital. Methods: ANOVA was performed to determine the spatial variation of birth weight. The co-variates that influence Low Birth Weight are: 1. Social variables 2. Economic variables 3. Biological variables. Multiple Regression Logistic models were carried out to determine the influence of the direct and indirect factors. Results: Nearly 24.7% of the new borns have Low Birth Weight. Females were more in number as compared to males low birth weights. Mother’s education, access to information, exposure to TV and newspaper, nuclear family, intake of iron supplements and socio-economic conditions play a significant role in determining birth weight.