Abstract
Background : It is stated in Indonesian vision on health for year 2010 that the incident of babies born underweight is expected to be reduced up to 7% or less. Nevertheless, this condition of baby’s underweight is still estimated to reach up to about 15% (Sayogyo, 1998). In fact, this incident has a highly significant effect on the number of baby’s death in Indonesia (Health Department, RI, 1996). Several factors lead to high risk for underweight born baby incident include mothers’ ages, parity, nutrient, hemoglobin degree, antenatal check up, and occupation (Health Department, RI, 1995). Accordingly, WHO (1970 in Husaini, 1994) identifies factors such as pregnant mothers’ ages upon bearing and their nutrient status to be potential causes.
Objective : This study is aimed to find out the relationship between the nutrient and ages of pregnant mothers and the incident of underweight born babies at Regional Public Hospital Bau-Bau.
Method : The sample includes pregnant mothers who bear their babies at Regional Public Hospital Bau-Bau. The total of the samples are 56 consisting of 2 groups with equal number that is 28 for case group and 28 for control group. The sample is taken by using purposive sampling. The data is analyzed by using Odds Ratio (OR). It is used to test the hypothesis to discover the level of effect of the independent variable towards the dependent variable.
Results : The results of the study show that 51.8% of the pregnant mothers whose babies’ delivery at the said hospital is classified as normal category (with upper arm measurement > 23.5 cm). In addition, about 78.6% of the pregnant mothers ages about 20 to 35 years old. In comparison to the pregnant mothers with the aforementioned ages, Those with ages below 20 or above 35 years old were 2.40 times higher to have a risk to deliver underweight babies. Furthermore, those with lack of nutrient status (with upper arm measurement < 23.5 cm) are 3.80 times higher to have a risk to bear underweight babies than those with good nutrient status (with upper arm measurement > 23.5 cm).