Afsaneh Bakhtiari - Babol University of Medical Sciences
Zahra Ahmadi - Family midwifery in health center

Background and Aim : Background and Aim: Small gestational age (SGA) is an important and silentcause of various complications and mortality for fetus and infant. Understanding the risk factors of thisdisorder can help us better control it. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of SGA and itsrelated factors.Methods : Method: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 500 live single infants, withaccurate gestational age, at Babol University Hospitals. Data collection was done using questionnaire andweight, height and head circumference measurement by standard methods. Data were analyzed using chisquare,T-test and logistic regression models.Results : Results: The results showed that 8.4% of the neonates were SGA-term and 0.8% SGA-preterm.In multivariate analysis, significant risk factors include being primiparous, rural residents, not usingcomplementary pregnancies, mothers with freelance jobs, unemployed fathers, chronic maternalhypertension, urinary tract infection in pregnancy, second half gestational bleeding, maternal age > 30 years,mother s short stature and poor weight gain in pregnancy (p = 0.001).Conclusion : Conclusion: Improved pregnancy care for mothers with known risk factors for SGA maysignificantly reduce SGA burden in this area of Iran.

SGA, Risk factors, Prevalence