MATERNAL HYPERTENSION AS A RISK FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH LOW BIRTH WEIGHT

Objective: to investigate the association between maternal hypertension and low birth weight, in a public hospital in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 317 individuals, such that the case group was composed of 87 mothers of children born with a weight of less than 2500 g and/or gestational age less than 37 weeks, and the control group was composed of 230 mothers of newborns of weight greater than or equal to 2500 g and gestational age greater than or equal to 37 weeks. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were applied to the data gathered. Results: The results showed a statistically significant difference in maternal age between the study groups. The use of medications and number of prenatal consultations were also shown to be associated with low birth weight. After appropriate adjustments, the association between maternal hypertension and low birth weight was demonstrated to be strong and statistically significant (OR = 3.84; 95% CI: 1.92 – 7.68). Conclusions: The findings indicate that maternal hypertension is a possible risk factor for low birth weight.