Abstract:

Aim: The study aimed at determining factors that cause low birth weight. The study was a case-control study. No sampling was made and 40 puerperant women who had babies whose birth weights were lower than 2500 grams. (as case-group) and another 40 puerperant women who had babies whose birth weights were higher than 2500 grams. (as control-group) were included in the study between the 1st of January and 31st of January 2015 at a state hospital in Balikesir. A questionnaire form that was designed by the researchers and that addressed socio-demographic characteristics, pregnancy-related problems and nutritional status of puerperant women was employed. For the data evaluation; numbers, percentage distributions, Chi-Square test, Fisher's exact test, Independent Sample T test were used. Results were considered significant at p<0.05. Odds Ratio values were estimated in order to find out how many times risk factors increased low birth weights. Findings: When the participant puerperant women were examined; average age of case-group was 29.62±5.88 years while average age of control group was 29.92±3.73 years. 40% of the case-group had secondary school degree while 35% of the control-group had primary school degree. Mean birth weight of the newborns was 2323.25±104.52 gr. in case-group and 3322.97±412.82 gr. in the control group. In the study, it was found that nausea increased the risk for low birth weight by 2.8 times, vomiting by 3 times, heartburn 3.5 times, consuming milk and dairy products less than 2-3 portions in a week by 5. 2 times, consuming fruits less than 2-3 portions in a week by 9.1 times during pregnancy period. Mean weight was 2610.60±536.84 gr. among those neonates whose mothers consumed milk and dairy products poorly and 2419.33±278.93 gr. among those neonates whose mothers consumed fruit poorly. Low birth weight is caused by factors that can be prevented. It is necessary to consume all kinds of foods in a sufficient and balanced way during pregnancy. In light of these findings, it was argued that dietary training to be given to the pregnant women was important in order to prevent low birth weight. In this sense, the responsibility of nurses who are the ones who most frequently meet pregnant women is very big.

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