Abstract
BackgroundLow birth weight (LBW) remains a leading global cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. This study leverages a large national survey to determine current prevalence and socioeconomic, demographic and heath related factors associated with LBW in Bangladesh.MethodsData from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2012–13 of Bangladesh were analyzed. A total of 2319 women for whom contemporaneous birth weight data was available and who had a live birth in the two years preceding the survey were sampled for this study. However, this analysis only was able to take advantage of 29% of the total sample with 71% missing birth weight for newborns. The indicator, LBW (< 2500 g) of infants, was examined as the outcome variable in association with different socioeconomic, demographic and health-related covariates. Mixed-effects logistic regression was performed to identify possible factors related to LBW.ResultsIn the selected sub-sample, about 20% of infants were born with LBW, with lowest rates observed in Rajshahi (11%) and highest rates in Rangpur (28%). Education of mothers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39–0.68 for secondary or higher educated mother) and poor antenatal care (ANC) (AOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.04–1.90) were associated with LBW after adjusting for mother’s age, parity and cluster effects. Mothers from wealthier families were less likely to give birth to an LBW infant. Further indicators that wealth continues to play a role in LBW were that place of delivery, ANC and delivery assistance by quality health workers were significantly associated with LBW. However there has been a notable fall in LBW prevalence in Bangladesh since the last comparable survey (prevalence 36%), and an evidence of possible elimination of rural/urban disparities.ConclusionsLow birth weight remains associated with key indicators not just of maternal poverty (notably adequate maternal education) but also markers of structural poverty in health care (notably quality ANC). Results based on this sub-sample indicate LBW is still a public health concern in Bangladesh and an integrated effort from all stakeholders should be continued and interventions based on the study findings should be devised to further reduce the risk of LBW.
Highlights
Low birth weight (LBW) remains a leading global cause of childhood morbidity and mortality
We aim to explore the prevalence statistics on LBW and analyze socioeconomic, demographic and health factors related to LBW in the population of Bangladesh based on a sub-sample from a nationally representative data
Our data would suggest this study [8] would be biased towards fewer low birth weights but the current study shows that LBW rates in non-home settings has fallen to 16.3%, compared to this study’s hospital birth rate of 23.2%
Summary
Low birth weight (LBW) remains a leading global cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Low birth weight (LBW) remains a leading public health problem especially in developing countries, but in both the developed and developing world LBW remains associated with cardio-metabolic [1, 2] psychiatric disorders [3], and mortality both in infancy [4] and adulthood [2]. The rate of LBW in Bangladesh during the last national survey was high, and arose even in developed urban areas traditionally associated with lower prevalence. The National Low Birth Weight Survey (NLBWS) of Bangladesh (2003–2004) estimated that about 36% of total infants were born with LBW, with 29% prevalence in urban areas [7, 8]. Considering the implications for child mortality [9, 10] significant reduction in prevalence of LBW is necessary to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call