Analysis on the risk factors for low birth weight infants of Zhuang ethnicity in Pingguo and Debao County of Guangxi Province

Objective To analyze the occurrence of low birth weight in Zhuang population. Methods A total of 4 915 living births in People's Hospital and Child Health Hospital of Pingguo and Child Health Hospital of Debao from January 2012 to June 2015 were recruited. The associations between potential factors and the risk of low birth weight were evaluated by multivariate Logistic stepwise regression model. Results The incidence rate of low birth weight for Zhuang infants was 7.28%. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that gestational age ≥35 years old (OR=1.72), height ≤150 cm (OR=2.75), pre-pregnancy BMI <18.5 kg/m² (OR=1.68), hemoglobin levels <110 g/L in early gestation (OR=1.50), mid weight gain during the second trimester (OR=1.57), a history of abortion (OR=1.76), gestational hypertension (OR=5.32), multiple parturition (OR=1.51) and frequency of antenatal visits <8 times (OR=2.10) were risk factors of low birth weight. Overweight in the first trimester (OR=0.26), gestational age >37 weeks (OR=0.06), and single birth (OR=0.04) were protective factors of low birth weight. Conclusions The incidence of low birth weight is affected by multiple factors. Factors like gestational age, mother's height, pre-pregnancy BMI, hemoglobin levels in early gestation, a history of abortion, gestational hypertension and frequency of antenatal visits can significantly increase the risk of low birth weight in Zhuang infants, comprehensive measures should be taken to control and reduce the incidence of low birth weight.