الفهرس 
AcknowledgementOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The study was qarried out at sharjah Maternity Hospital and AIQassimi Hospital in Sharjah during a period of six months. Two hundred low birth weights were identified through weighing all newborns as soon as possible after birth. The baby of normal weight and of the same sex next to’ that of low birth weight was chosen as a cont role Information data were collected including those related to the newborn namely its sex, anthropometric measurement (weight, height, head and chest circumfer ances) placenta weight, congenital anomalies and the . gestational age. The latter was estimated through ex amination for neurological and skin criteria of maturity. Maternal status was known through socioeconomic, biolo gical, medical and reporoductive data. The result of the present study could be summarized in the following: 1- The incidence of low birth weight in sharjah was 11.9. 2- Females were more frequent wherefumale to male ratio was 130 : 100. 3- Analysis of low birth weight by type showed that 72 were prematures and the rest, (28) were small-for dates. The study of the factors predisposing to low birth weight indicated that there are social, biological and medical differences between low birth weights and their controls: 4- Low birth weights were found to come from families with significantly less educated parents, with lower income and l~ving at small houses which are of a low standard. 5- Mothers of low birth weights were significantly younger than the contr~ls (47 of low birth weight’s mothers were below 25 years compared to 30 of controls), and duration of marriage was significantly shorter in low birth weights than controls. 6- Mothers of low birth weights were either primipara or of low parity and the last inter birth interval was shorter compared to the controls. 7- Previous low weight births were found to be significantly higher among mothers of low birth weights than among the controls. 8- Multiple pregnant was present in 11 of births of low birth weight and absent in the controls. 9- Mothers of low birth weights were significantly light er and shorter. , 10- Anaemia was found more frequently among mothers of low birth weights than among the controls (15 and 13than for check up, and paid on the average significant fewer number of visits than controls~sig nificantly higher percent of mother~ of low birth weight (8.5) than of controls (3.5) did not re ceive any antenatal care during index pregnancy. , 14- Abnormal deliveries constituted 11.5 of low birth weight compared to, 1 of controls. 15- The placenta of low birth weights were significantly smaller than those of the controls. Significant differences were observed between prematures and small-for-dates in their medical, social and biological background: 16- Small-for-dates were more likely to be born to young er, of low parity mOthers an4 of professional fathers as compared to prematures. While prematures were likely to be born in families with higher number of person househo~d, to mothers with significant previous low weight births, with significant lower antenatal visits, with significant shorter inter birth interval as compared to small-for-dates. Main recommendations A. Registration of birth weight in birth certificate. B. Health promotion services, through: I. Education (basic and nutritional) 11. Services policy. 1. Maternal services (through MCR) a) Family planning. b) Antenatal care. c) High risk pregnanc~care. d) Demonstrating kitchen. e) Home visIts. 2. School Health Services (preparing healthful mother) . 3. Ladies societies (family planning-home economic - health education). 4. Mass media service (through medical pages) 5. Services for low birth weights. 111. Training programme. IV. Further researches..