الفهرس 
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Abstract
Birth weight is the first weight of the fetus or newborn obtained after birth. For live births, birth weight should preferably be measured within the first hour of life, before significant postnatal weight loss has occurred. Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as weight at birth of less than 2 500 g irrespective of gestational age. Prematurity (infants born before 37 weeks gestation) and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) are the two main causes of LBW. Low birth weight is a reliable indicator in monitoring and evaluating the success of maternal and child health programs.
Fetal growth and birth weight is influenced by a variety of factors social and economic , behavioral as well as specific medical conditions that may be present or that may develop during pregnancy, inadequate prenatal care obstetric complications and maternal bad histories.
LBW has economic effect; parents with infants of low birth weight pay more money than infants whose weight is 2,500 g or over. There is a negative relationship between birth weight and cost for medical care; lower weight increases costs and higher weight decreases costs.
World-wide, about 16% of live births, or some 20 million infants per year are born with less than 2500g of weight and 90% of them are born in developing countries. In Egypt LBW incidence is 11% according to EDHS 2008.The reduction of low birth weight forms an important contribution to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for reducing child mortality.
The aim of the present study was to find out the important risk factors of giving birth to LBW neonates among women.