Socio-demographic and consanguinity risk factors associated with low birthweight.

Objective: To examine socio-demographic and biological risk factors associated with mothers giving birth to a low birthweight newborn among Arab women in Qatar.

Methods: The case-control study was conducted at two main tertiary hospitals in Qatar in which participants were prospectively identified from January 2010 to April 2011. Data were collected by survey on maternal ethnicity, age, education, socioeconomic status, body mass index, consanguinity and gestational age.

Measuring burden of diseases in a rapidly developing economy: state of Qatar.

Background: The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study has provided a conceptual and methodological framework to quantify and compare the health of populations.

Aim: The objective of the study was to assess the national burden of disease in the population of Qatar using the disability-adjusted life year (DALYs) as a measure of disability.

Methods: We adapted the methodology described by the World Health Organization for conducting burden of disease to calculate years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD) and disability adjusted life years (DALYs).