240 Risk Factors Associated With Term and Preterm Low Birth Weight in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam.

Abstract

ObjectiveLBW (< 2,500 g) is a significant problem in both developed and developing nations. Using data from a recently completed study, this secondary analysis was performed to identify and compare the risk factors associated with term and preterm LBW.MethodsThe original LBW case group was stratified into term and preterm deliveries. The control for this study was term, normal weight births (≥ 2,500 g), derived from the original control group. Logistical regression was used to estimate odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsRisk factors associated with term LBW included advanced maternal age (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.6, 6.3), unmarried status (OR: 5.0, 95% CI: 1.8, 13.7), rural residence (OR: 4.1, 95% CI: 2.1, 8.0), farming occupation (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.0, 3.5), shorter stature (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5, 4.9), having an unemployed partner (OR: 4.4, 95% CI: 1.7, 11.6), lower rate of weight gain (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.3, 7.6), exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.4), and placenta abnormality (OR: 13.9, 95% CI: 3.1, 61.9). Risk factors associated with preterm LBW were less than 3 antenatal visits (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.6, 5.3), lower (OR: 10.6, 95% CI: 4.9, 23) or higher (OR: 4.5, 95% CI: 2, 10) rate of weight gain, having an unemployed partner (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.2, 7.0), history of LBW infants (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.7, 8.7), history of spontaneous abortion or preterm delivery (OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.4, 4.7), psychosocial stress (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5, 4.8), exposure to ETS (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.4, 3.6), vaginal hemorrhage (OR: 7.5, 95% CI: 3.6, 15.7), placenta abnormality (OR: 7.7, 95% CI: 1.9, 31.1), gestational hypertension (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2, 5.2), and anemia (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.5).ConclusionA comparison of the risk factors suggests potential benefits for distinguishing between term and preterm LBW deliveries in some populations.