Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the factors associated with low birth weight (LBW) and to formulate a scale to predict the probability of having a LBW infant.
Methods
This hospital based case–control study was conducted in a tertiary care university hospital in North India. The study included 250 LBW neonates and 250 neonates with birth weight ≥2,500 g. Data were collected by interviewing mothers using pre-designed structured questionnaire and from hospital records.
Results
Factors significantly associated with LBW were inadequate weight gain by the mother during pregnancy (<8.9 kg), inadequate proteins in diet (<47 g/d), previous preterm baby, previous LBW baby, anemic mother and passive smoking. The prediction model made on these six variables has a sensitivity of 71.6 %, specificity 67.0 %, positive LR 2.17 and negative LR of 0.42 for a cut-off score of ≥29.25. On validation, it has a sensitivity of 72 % and specificity of 64 %.
Conclusions
It is possible to predict LBW using a prediction model based on significant risk factors associated with LBW.
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AS, SA, HC and KA: Conception and design, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content and final approval of the version to be published; RP: Statistical analysis.
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Singh, A., Arya, S., Chellani, H. et al. Prediction Model for Low Birth Weight and its Validation. Indian J Pediatr 81, 24–28 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-013-1161-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-013-1161-1