Socio-Biological Determinants of Low Birth Weight: A Community based study from rural field practice area of Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal (India)

Abstract

Birth weight is the single most important criteria for determining the neonatal and infant survival. Low Birth Weight is the result of complex interplay of various social and reproductive health factors. A cross-sectional community based retrospective study was carried out in rural West Bengal among 540 birth episodes. Proportion of low birth weight infants were found significantly more among mothers elderly & teenaged, less educated, addicted to tobacco, Multipara and primipara, received less antenatal care, female infants, delivered at home, short stature, anaemic and had obstetric complications. Focused attention to reduce low birth weight babies, community specific strategies such as improving awareness of the community and utilization of existing maternal health services is essential