Related Factors to Low Birth Weight Infants in Ban Mee Hospital

Abstract

A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted during October 2007 - February 2008 at Ban Mee hospital.  The purpose of this study was to find the factors associated with low birth weight infants.  Low birth weight infants rate was 8.74 percent of live birth infants.  Factors associated with low birth weight infants were maternal weight increased less than 10 kilograms, motherีs height less than 140 centimeters, gestational age less than 37 weeks, maternal complications such as pregnancy induced hypertention, premature rupture of membrane, and twins.  Improvement of antenatal care, early detection of high risk pregnancy group, maternal and families education, early detection of complicated pregnancy and treatment before the infant birth is affected, setting up clinical practice guidelines for complicated pregnancy and effectiveness of referral system would reduce low birth weight infant rate.