Maternal Sociocultural Status: A Novel Assessment of Risk for the Birth of Small for Gestational Age, Low Birth Weight Infants

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the significance of material sociocultural status within the family as a risk factor for low birth weight-small for gestational age (LBW-SGA) births using a novel scoring system and also isolated related medical risk factors. METHODS: A prospective matched pairs case control study of 396 LBW-SGA infants (cases) and 396 term, appropriate for gestational age infants (controls) was set up. RESULTS: Low maternal sociocultural status (p = 0.02) was significantly associated with LBW-SGA births as were nonregistration for antenatal care (p = 0.001), maternal weight at delivery < 50 kg (p < 0.0001), antepartum hemorrhage/preeclampsia (p < 0.01), primigravidity and previous small baby (p <0001). Other risk factors included birth interval < 24 m (p < 0.001) and poor maternal or paternal education (p < 0.05). Conditional logistic regression identified maternal weight at delivery < 50 kg (OR 4.8, 95% C.I. 3.0-7.6), lack of antenatal care (OR 2.0, 95% C.I. 1.4-2.9), antepartum hemorrhage/preeclampsia (OR 4.3, 95% C.I. 1.7-10.8) and previous small baby (OR 4.3, 95% C.I. 2.1-8.9) as independent risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Low sociocultural status of the mother within the family is significantly associated with having a LBW-SGA baby. Further studies are warranted to study this risk factor.