Risk factors associated with low birth weight in patients with critical infant morbidity

Abstract

Introduction: birth weight is a key determinant of infant morbidity and mortality. Objective: determine the risk factors associated with low birth weight in patients with critical infant morbidity in Cacocum municipality, Holguín, Cuba, during the period May 2, 2021 to May 1, 2022. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out. The population was comprised of 798 live births during the study period and the sample consisted of 25 patients with critical infant morbidity, obtained by non-probabilistic purposive sampling. The primary data were obtained from the infant critical morbidity discussion surveys. The variables studied were at following: age, sex, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, prenatal history, perinatal history, and postnatal history. Results: both male patients (72 %) and group age 1 to 30 days (76 %) were predominant. There was no difference between preterm and term births and between low birth weight and normal weight births. There was a statistically significant relationship between gestational hypertensive disease and intrauterine growth restriction with respect to low birth weight. The predominant morbidity was respiratory distress syndrome in low birth weight infants (80%). Conclusions: gestational hypertensive disease and intrauterine growth restriction are risk factors associated with the low birth weight in critical infant morbidity.

Keywords

• factor de riesgo
• morbilidad crítica infantil
• bajo peso al nacer