Risk factors of preterm delivery of low birth weight (plbw) in an African population
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Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academic Journals
Abstract
More than 20 million infants in the world (15.5% of all births) are born with low birth weight. Ninety-five
percent of them are in developing countries. The objective of this study was to examine different factors
which may contribute to preterm delivery of low birth weight (PLBW) in a recent sample of Rwandan
birth. The study sample included 200 randomly selected women admitted to the department of
obstetrics-gynecology of the teaching hospital of Butare in Rwanda. Mothers were asked to complete a
questionnaire and obstetrics records were used in order to identify factors which might pose a health
risk to them and their infants. Maternal weight, height, history of previous preterm and healthy
conditions of the children in the family showed a significant relationship with PLBW. Maternal level of
education, number of pregnancies of the mother, urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted disease,
antibiotic administration, diabetes, history of heart disease, alcohol consumption and smoking showed
a relationship with PLBW but the relationship was not significant. More studies are required for a better
understanding of the mechanism leading to preterm delivery of low birth infants.
Description
Keywords
Africa, Pregnancy, Preterm delivery, Low birth weight infants, Maternal weight, Sexually transmitted infection
Citation
Bayingana, C. et al. (2010). Risk factors of preterm delivery of low birth weight (plbw) in an African population. Journal of Clinical Medicine and Research, 2(7): 114-118