Factors associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight: a study from rural Maharashtra, India [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Ahankari, Anand; Bapat, Sharda; Myles, Puja; Fogarty, Andrew; Tata, Laila

Abstract

© 2017 Ahankari A et al. Background Although preterm delivery and low birth weight (LBW) have been studied in India, findings may not be generalisable to rural areas such as the Marathwada region of Maharashtra state. There is limited information available on maternal and child health indicators from this region. We aimed to present some local estimates of preterm delivery and LBW in the Osmanabad district of Marathwada and assess available maternal risk factors. Methods The study used routinely collected data on all in-hospital births in the maternity department of Halo Medical Foundation's hospital from 1 st January 2008 to 31 st December 2014. Multivariable logistic regression analysis provided odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for preterm delivery and LBW according to each maternal risk factor. Results We analysed 655 live births, of which 6.1% were preterm deliveries. Of the full term births (N=615), 13.8% were LBW ( < 2.5 kilograms at birth). The odds of preterm delivery were three times higher (OR=3.23, 95% CI 1.36 to 7.65) and the odds of LBW were double (OR=2.03, 95% CI 1.14 to 3.60) among women < 22 years of age compared with older women. The odds of both preterm delivery and LBW were reduced in multigravida compared with primigravida women regardless of age. Anaemia (Hb < 11g/dl), which was prevalent in 91% of women tested, was not significantly related to these birth outcomes. Conclusions The odds of preterm delivery and LBW were much higher in mothers under 22 years of age in this rural Indian population. Future studies should explore other related risk factors and the reasons for poor birth outcomes in younger mothers in this population, to inform the design of appropriate public health policies that address this issue.

Citation

Ahankari, A., Bapat, S., Myles, P., Fogarty, A., & Tata, L. (2017). Factors associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight: a study from rural Maharashtra, India [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. F1000Research, 6, Article 72. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.10659.1

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 15, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jan 24, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Feb 22, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 9, 2018
• Journal: F1000Research
• Electronic ISSN: 2046-1402
• Publisher: F1000Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Article Number: 72
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.10659.1
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/596855
• Publisher URL: https://f1000research.com/articles/6-72/
• Contract Date: Mar 9, 2018