Impact of Maternal Risk Factors on Birth Weight of Newborn in Two Maternity Hospitals in Baghdad City

Abstract

Objectives: A cross sectional analytic study was carried out to identify the maternal risk factors which
contribute to occurrence of low birth weight, and to determine the statistical significant differences between low
birth weight and maternal risk factors.
Methodology: A purposive sample of (400) woman was selected from AL-Elwyia Maternity Teaching Hospital
and Fatima Al-Zaharia Maternity and Pediatric Teaching Hospital. Data was collected through the interview of
mothers. Questionnaire format was designed and consisted seven parts, demographic variables, and reproductive
variables , Reproductive health variables, complications during the current pregnancy, the mother newborn
variables nutritional status for the mother , antenatal care services, and the psychosocial status for pregnant
women. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were determined by conducting a pilot study. Descriptive
and inferential statistical procedures were used to analyze the data.
Results: The results of the study revealed that the most of them their age was ranged between (20-34) years, and
the highest percentage of them were graduated of primary school and less, most of them were housewives
with low socioeconomic status. The result indicated that there were five important variables contributed to the
incidence of low birth weight and these variables were gestational age nutrition status, previous low birth
weight, and psychosocial status for pregnant women during pregnancy and the age of mothers.
Recommendations: it is recommended to emphasize on prenatal care as early as possible and improve health
services rendered to mothers during pregnancy that the nurse must take the role in reducing the incidence of
LBW.