Factors associated with low birth weight at term: a population-based linkage study of the 100 million Brazilian cohort

BACKGROUND: Factors associated with low birth weight at term (TLBW), a proxy for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), are not well-elucidated in socioeconomically vulnerable populations. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with TLBW in impoverished Brazilian women. METHODS: Records in the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort database were linked to those in the National System of Information on Live Births (SINASC) to obtain obstetric, maternal, birth and socioeconomic data between 2001 and 2015. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to investigate associations between variables of exposure and TLBW. RESULTS: Of 8,768,930 term live births analyzed, 3.7% presented TLBW. The highest odds of TLBW were associated with female newborns (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.47–1.50), whose mothers were black (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.18–1.22), had a low educational level (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.53–1.62), were aged ≥35 years (OR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.43–1.46), had a low number of prenatal care visits (OR: 2.48; 95% CI: 2.42–2.54) and were primiparous (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.60–1.64). Lower odds of TLBW were found among infants whose mothers lived in the North, Northeast and Center-West regions of Brazil compared to those in the South. CONCLUSION: Multiple aspects were associated with TLBW, highlighting the need to comprehensively examine the mechanisms underlying these factors, especially in more vulnerable Brazilian populations, in order to contribute to the elaboration of health policies and promote better conditions of life for poor and extremely poor mothers and children.