The maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight status in ill neonates were: maternal height < 145 cm (OR=2.5), birth interval < 24 months (OR=5.4), multiple pregnancy (OR=5.1, 95% CI: 1.8 - 14.5), anaemia (OR=2.1,) and pre-eclampsia (OR=4.6) with p<0.05.