Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of mothers with preterm and low weight infants

Abstract

Introduction: Preterm birth and low birth weight constitute a health problem worldwide, since they represent an important predictor of development and postnatal growth, as well as an indicator of newborn morbidity and mortality. Objective: To characterize mothers with preterm and low weight infants according to clinical and epidemiological variables. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out from January to December, 2022, of 35 mothers with preterm and low weight infants, belonging to the East Area Teaching Polyclinic in Camagüey city. Age, nutritional state, risk classification, prenatal control, preconcepcional reproductive risk, multidisciplinary visits, diseases characteristic of pregnancy, birth state, detected deficiencies and causes were among the analyzed variables. Results: In the series there was prevalence of the 35 and over age group (25.7%), obesity (37.1%), high risk mothers (45.7%) who received among 8-14 prenatal controls, and bad obstetric history (31.4%). On the other hand, 22.9% of the mothers had low weight children and 31.4% preterm children; as long as there were difficulties in follow up due to absences (57.1%). Conclusions: The mothers presented unfavorable clinical and epidemiological characteristics, such as the 35 and over years, obesity, high risk, bad obstetric history and vaginal infection as a disease characteristic of pregnancy, which influenced the infants to be preterm or low weight, or both.

Keywords

• embarazo
• recién nacido de bajo peso
• recién nacido prematuro
• factores de riesgo.