Consanguineous marriages and low birth weight mediating role of antenatal care visits.

ABSTRACT: Low birth weight (LBW) is a critical public health concern in Pakistan, significantly contributing to neonatal mortality and long-term health disparities. Consanguineous marriages, highly prevalent in the region, are associated with adverse birth outcomes. While antenatal care (ANC) visits are crucial for improving maternal and child health, their role in mediating the relationship between consanguinity and LBW remains underexplored. This study investigates whether ANC visits mediate the association between consanguineous marriage and LBW in Pakistan. This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2017-18 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), analyzing 14,465 live births. Consanguineous marriage was the independent variable, ANC visits (categorized as ≥ 8 vs. <8) served as the

SUBMITTER: Saleem MU 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12627671 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature