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Table 3 Risk factors for low birth weight

From: Malaria in pregnant women in an area with sustained high coverage of insecticide-treated bed nets

Variable

At risk of

LBW

(n)

Univariate analysis

odds ratio

(95% (CI)

LR

(p-value)

Multivariate

analysis

odds ratio (95%

(CI)

LRT

Age

404

0.89 (0.81 – 0.97)

< 0.01

0.92 (0.83 – 1.02)

 

Patient's home:

  

0.66

  

   Ifakara & vicinity

299

1

   

   Beyond Ifakara

105

1.15 (0.62 – 2.12)

   

Parity:

  

0.04

  

   Secundigravid

156

1

   

   Primigravid

248

1.89 (1.02 – 3.48)

 

1.40 (0.69 – 2.82)

 

Age*Parity (interaction)

404

  

0.82 (0.67 – 1.01)

0.07

Use of bednet:

  

0.05

  

   Never used

37

1

   

   Untreated

273

0.36 (0.17 – 0.77)

 

0.34 (0.16 – 0.74)

 

   Treated bednet

94

0.19 (0.07 – 0.53)

 

0.22 (0.08 – 0.59)

 

Report of self-medication:

  

0.65

  

   Never used

228

1

   

   Antimalarial

103

0.98 (0.52 – 1.86)

   

   Other forms

73

0.66 (0.29 – 1.48)

   

Reported fever episode:

  

0.78

  

   Never reported

229

1

   

   Reported

175

1.08 (0.62 – 1.88)

   

Placenta parasitaemia:

  

0.31

  

   Absent

371

1

   

   Present

33

1.62 (0.67 – 3.91)

   

Neonates sex

  

0.24

  

   Male

213

1

   

   Female

203

1.15 (0.66 – 1.98)

   
  1. ¶-N = 60 cases of LBW (Birth weight < 2500 g)
  2. LR-likelihood ratio
  3. LRT-Likelihood ratio test for interaction