Abstract

Abstract. Low birth weigh infants at risk for infant mortality, especially in the perinatal period. Malnutrition status in pregnant women can inhibit the growth of the fetus so that the risk of having a baby with low birth weight. This study aims to determine the relationship of the upper arm circumference and age of pregnant women with the incidence of low birth weight babies. This research is a case-control analytic, with opproach " retrospective " The data collected is secondary data, sample size 152. The results of the sudy group LILA most cases (60,5%) categories malnutrition status, largely control group (86,8%) with good nutritional status. Age groups most cases (81.6%) and the control group entirely (100%) healthy reproductive category. The results of Chi squre testp value = 0.00(p <0.05 ). There was a significant relationship between maternal arm circumference with the lncidence of low birth weigh babies, OR = 10.12 value means women with less nutritional status categories have the opportunity to give birth to LBW 10 times. The test results of Fisher's Exact Test p value = 0.00 (p <0.05) There was a significant relationship between maternal age with the incidence of LBW babies. Value OR = 2.749 means an unhealthy reproductive age have almost 3 times the odds of having infants with low birth weight. Health workers to provide counseling to prospective mothers or pregnant women, nutrition and planning a pregnancy at a healthy reproductive life span. Keywords: arm circumference, age, Low Birth Weight