Effect of prenatal supplements usage on birth weight in the maternity hospital affiliated to Mashhad University of medical sciences in 2010

Introduction: Birth weight is considered as an important health indicator. since there is a meaning full relationship between LBW and neonatal death it is necessary to program some useful Interventions to diminish LBW. In this study we assess the  relation  between the birth weight and the supplementary usage (folic acid, iron , multivitamins),
Methods: This is a case -control study which  accomplished  in two groups (666 persons for each group)in maternity hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of medical  sciences. A questionnaire with 15  questions was filled for every mother with a LBW and premature labor(case) and also for every mother with a delivery  of a term neonate  with a weight more than 2500 gr ( control). The interval between two  deliveries was the least.
Results: According to collected data about folic acid  in case group: 339 mothers (%50.9) complete use , 258 (%38.7) incomplete  and 69 mothers (%10.4) with no usage: In control group   respectively, 414 mothers (%62.1), 215 mothers (%32.3) and 37 mothers (%5.6), About multivitamin usage in  case group respectively:  504 cases (%77) -98 (14.7%) -64(%9.6). And in control group :545 (%82) -77 (%12) and 44 (%6 . 6). About iron tablet in case group, respectively : 543 (%81.5) -95 (%14.3)- 28 (% 4.2) and in control group:574 (%86.2) - 68 (%10.2) - 24 (%3.6). P value for folic acid and multivitamin and  iron  are respectively (0.025)-(0.03)-(0.033)
Conclusion: There is a meaningful difference between   supplementary  usage  and  LBW preterm labor. Thus it is necessary to educate mothers to use supplementary completely