Abstract
Background and Objectives: The prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) is one of the public health indices and factors involved in mortality and morbidity rates. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of maternal anthropometric characteristics on LBW incidence in Marand and Ajabshir, with the highest and the lowest LBW rates in East Azerbaijan province, respectively.
Materials and Methods: This case-control study was carried out on those born in 2006-2007 in rural and urban areas of Marand and Ajabshir. Neonates with birth weight <2500g were defined as "cases" and those with birth weight of ≥2500g were defined as controls. Cases and controls were matched by age and sex. Mothers of the infants were invited to health centers and maternal anthropometric data were collected using health records and face-to-face interview. All household and anthropometric data were compared between the cases and controls.
Results: In Marand, maternal weight at the end of each pregnancy trimester and also weight gain at the third trimester in the controls were significantly greater than in the cases. In urban areas of Marand, maternal weight gain at the first trimester in the controls was significantly greater than in the cases. In rural areas of Ajabshir, those with low maternal weight gain during pregnancy significantly had more neonates with LBW. The mean maternal BMI in rural areas was lower than in the urban areas of Marand. There were significant differences between the two studied towns with regard to weight gain at the third trimester in urban areas, prepregnancy body mass index, maternal weight gain during pregnancy and at the second trimester in rural areas.
Conclusion: Results of this study indicate the importance of maternal anthropometric measures particularly pregnancy weight gain in LBW incidence.