A cross-sectional study of the association between prenatal consultation and low birth weight in Barangay Do&ntilde;a Imelda, Quezon City

Erjan  Malimban,; John Jerome  Malubay,; Laurin Franchesca  Maravilla,; Maxinne Erica  Mamaril,; Anna Carissa  Mariano,; Klarizza Mae  Marquez,; Karen Loura Mae  Morales,; Paulo  Nacorda,; Jemie Rose Maria  Theresa Narag,; Kisha  Narva,; Dennis  Naval,; Georgina  T. Paredes,

A cross-sectional study of the association between prenatal consultation and low birth weight in Barangay Doña Imelda, Quezon City

Discipline: Health

Abstract:

Introduction The incidence of low birth weight infants remains high despite the measures such as prenatal consultation implemented by the Department of Health to prevent its occurrence. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of adequate prenatal consultation with low birth weight infants.

Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Barangay Doña Imelda, Quezon City among 20-34 year old women who were permanent residents of the barangay and gave birth in 2010. Subjects were selected by convenience sampling from those women who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results Of the 152 respondents, 26 (17.1%) women did not have prenatal consult. Of these 26 respondents, 16 delivered low birth weight infants (62%). Of 126 respondents who consulted, 8 of them delivered low birth weight infants (6.3%). The Prevalence Odds (PO) of 0.36 indicated that attending prenatal consultation among mothers is negatively related to the incidence of having low birth weight infants.

Conclusion The results show the importance of having prenatal consultation to prevent the occurrence of delivery of a low birth weight infant. The researchers recommend that the causality of the relationship be identified.