Low Birth Weight in Post-Conflict Baghdad, Iraq

Background In Iraq, high prevalence of low birth weight was reported in the last decade (50.0 %), and lower figure was reported recently (21.3 %). Iraqi women have been exposed to wars, civil war, terrorism and widespread violence in the last two decades. Publication on the effect of exposure to violence on birth weight is scarce. This work was carried out to comment on low birth weight during conflict in Iraq. Methods A total of 385 singleton newborns delivered at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital was included in the study for the period 1 st Nov.2014 to 1 st April 2015. Information regarded mothers were collected by interview. Requested data were demographic, reproductive health, medical and obstetrical history. Birth was taken from birth records. Results The rate of low birth weight was 19.7 %. Maternal education, party, hypertension, iron deficiency anemia, visits to antenatal clinic were significantly associated with low birth weight (p = 0.002, 0.003, 0.001, 0.002, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusion High prevalence of low birth weight was detected.