Table 1. Description of proximal factors and their association with low birth weight.
| Proximal factors | No. (%) of Cases (n = 155) | No. (%) of Controls (n = 310) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| History of chronic medical Illness to mother | |||
| No | 146 (94.2) | 298 (96.1) | Ref. |
| Yes | 9 (5.8) | 12 (3.9) | 0.343 |
| History of abortion | |||
| No | 131 (84.5) | 274 (88.4) | Ref. |
| Yes | 24 (15.5) | 36 (11.6) | 0.24 |
| History of premature delivery | |||
| No | 147 (94.8) | 308 (99.4) | Ref. |
| Yes | 8 (5.2) | 2 (0.6) | 0.002 |
| Hard physical work during pregnancy | |||
| No | 84 (54.2) | 207 (66.8) | Ref. |
| Yes | 71 (45.8) | 103 (33.2) | 0.008 |
| Illness during current pregnancy | |||
| No | 140 (90.3) | 292 (94.2) | Ref. |
| Yes | 15 (9.7) | 18 (5.8) | 0.125 |
| Current age category | |||
| Less than 20 years | 31 (20) | 38 (12.3) | Ref. |
| Age between 20–29 years | 108 (69.7) | 234 (75.5) | |
| More than 30 years | 16 (10.3) | 38 (12.3) | 0.083 |
| Parity category | |||
| Multiparous | 31 (20.0) | 73 (23.5) | Ref. |
| Primiparous | 124 (80.0) | 237 (76.5) | 0.387 |
| Height of mother | |||
| Height 146cm or more | 139 (89.7) | 292 (94.2) | Ref. |
| Height less than 146cm | 16 (10.3) | 18 (5.8) | 0.078 |
| Haemoglobin level | |||
| Hb level 11 or more | 10 (6.5) | 40 (12.9) | Ref. |
| Hb level less than 11 | 145 (93.5) | 270(87.1) | 0.039 |
| Iron intake frequency 3 months | |||
| Iron intake 3 months or more | 143 (92.3) | 292 (94.2) | Ref. |
| Iron intake less than 3 months | 12 (7.7) | 18 (5.8) | 0.423 |
| Ate beans, greens or meat daily during pregnancy | |||
| Yes | 91 (58.7) | 236 (76.1) | Ref. |
| No | 64 (41.3) | 74 (23.9) | 0.000 |
| Alcohol intake during pregnancy | |||
| No | 154 (99.4) | 306 (98.7) | Ref. |
| Yes | 1 (0.6) | 4 (1.3) | 0.512 |
| ANC visits | |||
| 4 or more times | 150 (96.8) | 290 (93.5) | Ref. |
| Less than 4 times | 5 (3.2) | 20 (6.5) | 0.146 |