Risk factors associated with low birth weight in a polyclinic in Manzanillo, Granma

Abstract

Introduction: low birth weight is one of the main indicators of infant morbidity and mortality. In Granma, in the year 2022 there was a significant increase in the index on this indicator that led the province to occupy the second place in this health problem in the whole country. Objective: to describe the main risk factors associated with low birth weight in polyclinic # 2 “Ángel Ortiz Vázquez”. Methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional observational study on risk factors associated with low birth weight was conducted at polyclinic # 2 “Ángel Ortiz Vázquez” in Manzanillo, Granma, in 2022.  From a universe of 56 infants, a sample of 30 low birth weight infants and their mothers was studied through simple random probabilistic sampling. Results: maternal ages of 20-34 years predominated with 18 patients (60 %). According to weight gain during pregnancy, most were insufficient with 17 pregnant women (56,6 %). Regarding the medical risks before and during pregnancy, the most prevalent risk factors were: chronic arterial hypertension and cervicovaginal infections for 40 % and 56,7 % respectively. Conclusions: it was possible to determine which risk factors such as insufficient maternal weight, previous and pregnancy-induced hypertension, as well as cervicovaginal infections and gestational anemia had an impact on low birth weight.

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