G77(P) Socioeconomic and maternal reproductive factors affecting low birth weight babies in central nepal

Introduction Low Birth weight is one of the most sensitive and reliable predictors of health and also an essential determinant of mortality, morbidity and disability in infancy and childhood. Globally, about one sixth of all newborns are low birth weight (LBW Material and Methods Cross-sectional and observational study was undertaken from October 2012 to September 2014 comprising of 350 singleton live born baby admitted in NICU of Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital, Chitwan. Results The common risks factors for LBW were significantly associated with low socio- economic status, maternal age, maternal education, occupation of mother, maternal smoking, maternal alcohol intake, number of ANC visit with significant p-value of Conclusion LBW mostly associated with maternal factors can be addressed directly by improving the socioeconomic factors (maternal age, educational level and economic status) and health status of pregnant women by supplementations, family planning services and female education.