![]() One hundred and twenty-three cases were selected from the list of 224 cases and 246 controls from the list of 777 controls randomly independent of exposure status by generating random numbers. The eligible numbers of participants were enlisted from the maternal and neonate health register of 28 birthing centers and 3 hospitals of Dang District. The total sample size was 369 with 123 cases and 246 controls. This was calculated by taking power at 80%, confidence level as 95%, the percentage of control exposed as 65.40, the odds ratio of 2.06 from the maternal weight against LBW, and the ratio of case to control was 1:2. The sample size was calculated using EpiInfo software version 7. Mother delivering singleton live-born baby with birth weight more or equal to 2500 grams without any congenital anomalies and were from the same Dang district. Hence this study aims to identify the associated risk factors of LBW at the community level by including the participants from the community level health facilities. These descriptive and hospital-based studies could not represent the risk factors of LBW at the community level as these studies had taken participants from hospitals only. A few descriptive and hospital-based case-control studies have been done in Nepal. The prevalence of LBW in Nepal ranges from 12% to 21.6%. The prevalence of LBW varies across regions with the highest 28% in South Asia and the lowest 6% in East Asia and the Pacific region. LBW is considered a significant public health problem as it is estimated that 15% to 20% of all birth worldwide are LBW. Extra-uterine infection, trauma, illness, IUGR, fetal infection, and anomalies are the contributing factors for preterm birth, resulting in growth retardation which ultimately results in LBW. IUGR newborn has typical features of malnutrition. IUGR is the outcome of insufficient uterine–placental perfusion and fetal nutrition affecting the overall anthropometric parameter of the fetus. The pathophysiology of low birth weight is unclear, whereas intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and preterm birth considered as the cause of LBW. The household cost, as well as health system costs, could be saved by reducing the burden of LBW. LBW babies are in the potential risk of cognitive deficits, motor delays, cerebral palsy, and other behavior and psychological problem. LBW infants are 20 times more likely to develop complications and die in comparison to normal weight babies. LBW is a valuable public health indicator of maternal health, nutrition, healthcare delivery, and poverty as LBW babies are at a higher risk of death and illness shortly after birth and non-communicable disease in the life course. World Health Organization defines low birth weight (LBW) as the birth weight less than 2500 grams irrespective of gestational age.
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