5. Original Scientific Paper Maternal age, Parity and Birth Weight in Manipur by E. Ngaithianven and R.K. Pathak Abstract Background: Birth weight is the most important and reliable indicator for infant growth and survival. A baby’s weight at birth is strongly associated with mortality risk during the first year and, to a lesser degree, with developmental problems in childhood and the risk of various diseases in adulthood. Objectives: To see the influence of maternal age and parity on infant birth weight. Materials and methods: Study design: cross sectional, hospital based study. Study setting: Hospitals and Maternity Clinic in Churachandpur, Manipur. Study period: 3 months (November, 2010- February, 2011) Study population: 219 Paite (Manipur, India) pregnant women delivering live infants in the study setting during the period of study. Results: The mean maternal age in the present sample population is 26 years. The mean birth weight of boys is 3.24kg, while for the girls it is 3.14kg. To access the influence of maternal age and parity on mean birth weight, Chi-square test was applied between low birth weight (less than 2500g) and birth weight greater than 2500g babies. However, no significant influences of maternal age and parity are observed on mean birth weight Download Complete Article