Prevalence and Determinants of Low Birth Weight: A Case-Control Study in Marrakesh (Morocco)

The estimated number of Low birth weight (LBW) (<2500 g) babies is about 20 million (15.5% of living births) (1). Thus, decreasing 30% of LBW by 2025 is the third global target. Its rate rises to 17% in the developing countries, which is only 7% in developed countries (1). The prevalence of LBW in Morocco is 11%, which is higher than those recorded in Algeria (7%), Tunisia (7%) and Jordan (10%) (1). besides, the LBW is a major determinant of infant mortality , and neonatal complications risk and morbidi-ties in adulthood (1).Consequently, special and expensive costs are spent on LBW survivors (1). Many studies have identified the risk factors of LBW (1, 4). There is a growing interest in the risk factors as the health and genetic factors (4). However , the socio-demographic factors are insufficiently controlled (4). In this context, studying the association of LBW with socio-demographic and health factors of Moroccan newborn groups in the city of Marra-kesh is of our major interest. Data were collected through a survey conducted in six public health centers in Marrakesh in 2014. The sample included a total of 796 couples "mother-child ". The mothers gave birth in the last 5 years preceding the survey. The birth weight of each child was gathered from the health records. The mothers were interviewed to collect socio-demographic and health information that might be associated with LBW. To study the association between the LBW and the variables, the " case-control " method was adopted. Each LBW case identified in the investigation was matched to a non-LBW child (98 LBW cases matched to 98 control children, Ratio 1:1). Births resulting from twin pregnancies were excluded. A verbal consent was obtained from mothers to participate in the investigation. The data was entered into the SPSS Version 10. The average birth weight was 3277 g (min= 1000; max=5600g). The average birth weight was 3312 g for boys, and 3242g (SD=600) for girls. The birth weights found in 1989 (6) and 1997 (6) in Marra-kesh were 3300g and 3350g. These results are slightly higher than the average birth weight found in our survey. Boys and girls had relatively the same average weight; the noticed difference was not significant (P=0.11). The prevalence of LBW representing 12.31% was calculated on all newborns birth weight (796). In the urban areas, it is found in 1997 (6) and in 2003 (5) to reach respectively …