Objective: To identify the risk factors for low birth weight (LBW) in Chinese newborns with varied characteristics.
Methods: A 1:1 matched case-control study, with 999 babies of LBW was performed in 44 counties of 11 provinces in China during July to October, 1998 for identifying their risk factors using simple and multivariate logistic regression models.
Results: The determinants of LBW in China included factors, such as multiparity (OR = 106.9), preterm birth (OR = 18.7), abnormal maternal health status (OR = 2.61) and maternal malnutrition (OR = 3.42), maternal medical conditions during pregnancy (OR = 1.93), maternal schooling (OR = 1.43), et al. Distribution of the risk factors for LBW was significantly different between coastal, inland and remote areas. LBW was mainly attributed to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (71.6%) in the rural areas, and to multiparity and preterm birth, in addition to IUGR, in the urban areas. There was different in the risk factors for LBW with preterm births and IUGR.
Conclusions: It is an effective way to reduce incidence of low birth weight in China that all measures for prevention and control should be relevant to its risk factors.