Epidemiologic identification of infants with low birth weight in urban areas of Latin America: I. Organization, population, and methodology of the Guatemalan perinatal study.

A prospective epidemiologic study of pregnant women was conducted within a lower middle class population of Guatemala City residents. The aims were to develop a statistically-based risk score for identifying pregnant women at high risk of delivering low birthweight infants as early in gestation as possible; to evaluate the sensitivity specificity and predictive value of this risk score using a different sample of women from the same population; and to develop a methodology for promoting use of risk approach during prenatal care in other countries of the region. Detailed information is provided about the study population organization of the study methods and materials used quality control of the data and results of data reliability analysis. Demographic comparisons were made between women delivering babies at the 3 public hospitals in Guatemala City during 1983. Data were collected on illiteracy; % of women from homes lacking electricity piped water and plumbing; % of women who were homemakers; and % delivering infants with low birthweights. Kappa values for inter-rater agreement on dichotomized variables were ascertained for marital status vitamins and minerals analgesics merconium during delivery whether the last child had a low birthweight and edema during pregnancy. Simplified computer programs for the most complex calculations prepared for use by mid-level personel are avaiable.