Effect of socio-economic and biological variables on birth weight in Madhya Pradesh.

A study on a few selected socio-biological and demographic determinants of birth weight was conducted at a hospital in Sagar town, Madhya Pradesh. Records of 2,680 single live births over a period of one year (1st January to 31st December 2000) were analysed. It was found that male infants were 124 g heavier than female infants. Tabular representation of data showed that maternal age, education, ethnicity, father's income and occupation, infant's sex and parity were strongly associated with birth weight of infants. Regression analysis gave a comprehensive picture of such associations and confirmed the above findings. The study showed that the socio-economic and biological variables considered in the analysis have significant effect on birth weight.