Determinants of Low Birth Weight at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville (Republic of Congo)

Abstract

<i>Objective:</i> Analyze the determinants of low birth weight at the Center Hospitalier Universitaire de Brazzaville. <i>Methods:</i> Case-control study, conducted from January 01 to June 30, 2020, in the Gynecology-Obstetrics department of the Brazzaville University Hospital, comparing 200 mother and newborn couples with a birth weight < 2500g (Cases) and 200 other mother and newborn couples -born with birth weight ≥ 2500g (Controls). The variables studied were pre, per and post partal. The p-value of the probability was considered significant for a value less than 0.05. <i>Results:</i> The mothers were different in age (age < 20 years: ORa = 6.0 [2.6-13.7]; p < 0.05 and age > 35 years ORa = 2.6 [1.1-6.0]; p < 0.05) mostly single (OR = 1.6 [1.3-3.9]; p < 0.05) with a history of low birth weight (ORa = 6.1 [1.2- 13.5]; p < 0.05) and lean (ORa = 8.4 [4.7-15.0]; p < 0.05). Pregnancies were associated with malaria (ORa = 3.0 [1.7-5.4]; p < 0.05) and arterial hypertension (ORa = 8.3 [3.1-22.3]; p<0.05). Most of them gave birth vaginally (OR= 1.8 [1.1-3.0]; p < 0.05), before term [(90.0% vs 8.5%); p<0.05)]. <i>Conclusion:</i> Low birth weight is of multifactorial origin. Its prevention requires management of the risk factors associated with it.