Low birthweight delivery: prevalence and associated factors as seen at a tertiary health facility.

BACKGROUND Low birth weight deliveries are major causes of a huge health burden on poor economies around the globe. It is even more worrisome in developing countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS The obstetric records of all low birth weight (LBW) deliveries were reviewed from 1 st June 2005 to 30 th May 2009. RESULTS The prevalence of LBW deliveries was 8.3%. Of the LBW babies, 68.4% were preterm, 53.6% were small for gestational age (SGA) and 12.6% were products of multiple gestations. Predominant factors associated with LBW delivery included nulliparity, low parities (1 and 2), parturient aged 25-35 years (80.6%), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and short birth spacing (84.4%). CONCLUSION Most LBW babies were preterm delivered by low parity parturient aged 25-35 years with short inter-pregnancy intervals. Effective family planning and antenatal services provided particularly for these categories of potential parturient could help to curb the incidence.