WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Dr. Kutaiba Ahmad Mohammad*

ABSTRACT

Background: Low birth weight (LBW), defined as a birth weight of less than 2500 grams, remains a major public health problem and is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. Low birth weight infants are particularly vulnerable to a variety of complications because of physiological immaturity and limited metabolic reserves, often requiring specialized neonatal care. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes of low birth weight infants admitted to Sheikhan General Hospital and to identify factors associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Neonatal Unit of Sheikhan General Hospital, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq, between January 2024 and December 2025. A total of 131 low birth weight infants with a birth weight of less than 2500 grams were included. Data regarding maternal characteristics, neonatal variables, clinical complications, and short-term outcomes were collected from hospital records. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 31. Associations between neonatal characteristics and adverse outcomes were assessed using Chi-square and logistic regression analyses. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean maternal age was 28.9 ± 6.4 years. Male infants accounted for 54.2% of cases, while preterm neonates represented (61.8%) of the study population. Very low birth weight infants (<1500 g) constituted 31.3% of cases. Maternal anemia (28.2%) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (22.9%) were the most common maternal risk factors. Neonatal jaundice was the most frequent complication, occurring in 51.9% of infants, followed by respiratory distress syndrome (32.8%), neonatal sepsis (22.1%), feeding difficulties (19.8%), and hypoglycemia (16.0%). Most infants were discharged in improved condition (84.0%), whereas (9.2%) were referred to tertiary care centers and (6.8%) died during hospitalization. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified very low birth weight (OR = 4.12, 95% CI: 1.52–11.17, P = 0.005), respiratory distress syndrome (OR = 3.36, 95% CI: 1.21–9.34, P = 0.020), and neonatal sepsis (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.08–7.98, P = 0.034) as independent predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes. Conclusions: Low birth weight infants remain at substantial risk of neonatal morbidity and adverse short-term outcomes. Neonatal jaundice, respiratory distress syndrome, and neonatal sepsis were the most common complications observed. Very low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, and neonatal sepsis were identified as significant independent predictors of adverse outcomes. Early identification of high-risk infants, improvement of antenatal care services, and timely neonatal intervention may contribute to reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality and improving survival outcomes.

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