Low birth weight is considered the most influentialfactor in determining neonatal morbidity and mortality. Also it may be associated with low levels of socioeconomic development and maternal and child care. This quantitative research aims to describe the risk factors for low birth weight newborns in public hospitals in the city of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results suggest the main risk factors are: the preterm birth,family income below - two minimum salaries, nulliparity and multiparity, the occurrence of previous abortion, surgery delivery, infections, pre-eclampsia and a history of other children of low weight. It is recommended to invest in the quality of prenatal care, since many of these risk factors can be avoided or minimized by prenatal care quality.
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