Abstract
Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) is the dominating risk factor for infant morbidity and mortality. LBW infants were three times more likely than normal birth weight infants to have neuro developmental complications and congenital abnormalities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the term Low Birth Weight (LBW) as birth weight less than 2500 grams. Objective: To develop epidemiological model investigating the association between mother’s nutritional status and low birth weight in India. Data and Methods: Third round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) data collected during 2005-2006 is used for this study. This data provides a comprehensive picture of population and health conditions in India. To check the association between variables coefficient of contingency was calculated and multivariable logistic regression model was applied to check independent effect of covariates. Univariate, bivariate and multivariable logistics regression model has been developed to investigate the association between mother’s nutritional status and low birth weight in India. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated with 95% confidence interval. Conclusion: The prevalence of low birth weight was observed high among those women who were underweight, anemic, never visited for any ANC checkup. Emphasis needs to be given to maternal nutritional factors which are more persistent across India than the impact of other factors on birth weight. This can be done by selectively targeting interventions to improve nutrition.
Highlights
Low birth weight (LBW) is the dominating risk factor for infant morbidity and mortality
The significant factors identified in the univariate analysis were further examined using bivariate, trivarivate and Multivariable logistic regression models to estimate the effect of nutritional indicator body mass index (BMI)
The contingency coefficient was calculated for the association between low birth weight and explanatory variables
Summary
Low birth weight (LBW) is the dominating risk factor for infant morbidity and mortality. Objective: To develop epidemiological model investigating the association between mother’s nutritional status and low birth weight in India. Univariate, bivariate and multivariable logistics regression model has been developed to investigate the association between mother’s nutritional status and low birth weight in India. Emphasis needs to be given to maternal nutritional factors which are more persistent across India than the impact of other factors on birth weight. The prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) is higher in Asia than elsewhere, predominantly because of under nutrition of the mother prior to and during pregnancy [2]. Pregnancy outcome is worst in babies from mothers with low body mass index as compared to healthy weight mothers with respect to increased incidence of preterm birth, lower birth weight and increased neonate mortality [3]
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