RISK-FACTORS FOR TERM INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION - A COMMUNITY-BASED STUDY IN KARACHI

Reported are the results of a community-based prospective study in fou r urban squatter settlements in Karachi that was carried out to assess the incidence of and risk factors for intrauterine growth retardation . The incidence of term intrauterine growth retardation was 24.4% amon g 738 singleton births. The socioeconomic and biological risk factors that were found to be statistically significant in a bivariate analysi s were included in a logistic regression model to assess their indepen dent effects. The major risk factors were low level of maternal educat ion, paternal unemployment, consanguinity, short birth-to-conception i ntervals, short maternal stature, and low maternal weight. The populat ion risk estimates suggest the desirability of public health intervent ions to improve maternal weight and birth spacing and of improvements in socioeconomic conditions, especially maternal education. Public edu cation programmes to discourage consanguineous marriages should also b e considered.