Effect of antenatal care on low birth weight prevention in Lao PDR: A case control study [version 1; peer review: 1 approved with reservations, 1 not approved]

• Published in: F1000 research 2018, Vol.7, p.1138
• Main Authors: Oulay, Latsamy, Laohasiriwong, Wongsa, Phajan, Teerasak, Assana, Supat, Suwannaphant, Kritkantorn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2046-1402; 2046-1402
• DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.15295.1

Background : Low Birth Weight (LBW) is a worldwide public health problem, which subsequently may affect the health status of the child. Lao PDR has high incidence of LBW.  Antenatal care (ANC) is provided to improve maternal and child health outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the effect ANC on LBW prevention in Lao PDR. Methods: This case control study was conducted in tertiary hospitals of Lao PDR. The ratio of case: control was 1:3, of which there were 52 cases and 156 controls that passed the inclusion criteria included in the study. In our analysis information on pregnancy and ANC including height of mother, maternal weight gain during pregnancy, maternal gestational age at delivery, type of delivery, supplementary vitamins, and other covariates including age, marital status, educational attainment, occupation, family income, health insurance, family size and living condition were described and determine their association with LBW using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: There were only 32.69 % of complete ANC among cases and 57.69% in control.  Incomplete ANC (