Risk factors associated with low birth weight in a health area of the municipality of Baracoa-Guantánamo

Introduction: Low birth weight is one of the most important causes of infant and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Objective: determine the risk factors related to low birth weight in the Baracoa municipality. Methods: An analytical observational case-control study was carried out. The universe was made up of 976 mothers. 80 mothers who had low birth weight were selected as the study group; the same number of cases (80) was chosen for comparison. The information was obtained from individual medical records and obstetric records. It was processed using percentage measurements, Chi Square test and Odds Ratio. Results: predominance of mothers aged 20 to 34 years 81.25%; 92.5% short intergenic period; predominance of underweight mothers at recruitment with inadequate weight gain 67.5 predominance of mothers with vaginal infection with 58.75%; 77.5% gestational age less than 37 weeks at the time of delivery. Conclusions: Low birth weight was significantly associated with mothers between 20 and 34 years of age, with a short intergenic period, inadequate weight gain in low-weight mothers at the time of recruitment, where vaginal sepsis predominated, and less than 37 weeks. at the time of delivery.