Low birth weight is one of the real public health problems. It is used as an indicator that reflects fetal growth within its mother but also predicts the future and growth of the child, at least in the first years of life. Several studies express the point of view that there would be a very high morbidity and mortality rate in children born with low birth weight than in other children.
The general reference hospital being a 2nd level structure takes care of all people in need of health from the entire health zone. It has been noted according to our observation that there have been more and more children born with low birth weight, particularly at the maternity ward of the HGR of Gemena, a reason for any person with a scientific mind to seek to discover what the determinants may be. It should be noted that the study was conducted in the peri-urban area of Gemena and covered nine health areas out of the twenty-three in the health zone. Rural health areas were not taken into account in this study given the difficulties of access and financial constraints. Well beyond the ZSUR of Gemena and its particular typology (urban health areas and rural health areas), each health zone, depending on the context, can be full of specific factors that other studies can help to discover.
Beyond the survey, our observation, our sense of apprehension and our curiosity were used to collect empirical data, analyze them and bring out the essential elements useful for providing guidance as results for our study. Overall, six factors were incriminated for which a positive association was found between the parameter analyzed and the occurrence of low birth weight (LBW).
This set of factors identified and listed above are therefore not exhaustive. It should also be noted that since the study was prospective, only cases recorded during the period of our study were considered for analysis. Like the shadow that hides the forest, rural areas and those not analyzed may well hide many other factors.