A novel scale for assessing the risk of low birthweight: Birthweight questionnaire

Background The birthweight of a newborn is critical to their health, development, and well-being. Previous studies that used maternal characteristics to predict birthweight did not employ a harmonised scale to assess the risk of low birthweight (LBW). Objective The goal of this study was to develop a new instrument that uses items on a uniform scale to assess the risk of an LBW in a pregnant woman. Methods Item response theory was employed to evaluate a similar existing scale, and some weaknesses were identified. Results Based on the observed weaknesses of the existing scale, a new uniform scale was developed, which is a 3-point Likert scale consisting of seven items. Conclusion The scale, termed birthweight questionnaire, is a valuable tool for collecting data that could assist in assessing the risk of an LBW at every stage of pregnancy.