The Relationship Between Maternal Age and Gestational Age with the Incidence of Low Birth Weight in Kalisat General Hospital, Jember

Abstract

Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant health problem in developing countries, with a global prevalence of 15.5% and reaching 10% in Indonesia in 2015. At Kalisat Regional General Hospital, Jember Regency, the incidence of LBW increased from 236 cases in 2022 to 381 cases in 2023 (61.44%). This study aims to analyze the relationship between maternal age and gestational age with the incidence of LBW at Kalisat Regional General Hospital.

Methods: The study design used correlational analytics with a retrospective cross-sectional approach. The population consisted of 334 mothers who gave birth spontaneously through the vagina, with a sample of 182 respondents selected using proportional random sampling. Data analysis was performed using the Chi-Square test.

Results: The results show a significant relationship between maternal age (p=0.001) and gestational age (p=0.000) with the incidence of LBW (p<0.05). Most mothers gave birth at a non-risky age and with a full-term gestational age, and the majority of babies were born with normal weight.

Conclusion: Planning for pregnancy during healthy reproductive years and regular prenatal checkups can help prevent complications during childbirth.