Determinants of Low Birth Weight among Deliveries at a Referral Hospital in Northern Ethiopia.

Lema Desalegn Hailu,Deresse Legesse Kebede

doi:10.1155/2018/8169615

Lema Desalegn Hailu, Deresse Legesse Kebede

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8169615

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Abstract

Background Low birth weight is the leading cause of infant and child mortality and contributes to several poor health outcomes. Proper knowledge of risk factors of low birth weight is important for identifying those mothers at risk and thereby for planning and taking appropriate actions. This study investigates factors predicting occurrence of low birth weight among deliveries at Debreberhan Referral Hospital. Methods Facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among deliveries that took place at Debreberhan Referral Hospital. Birth records and mothers' ANC files were reviewed from April to June 2016. The study participants were selected by consecutive sampling technique. Data analysis was performed by SPSS version 20. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of low birth weight. Result A total of 147 birth records of babies with low birth weight (cases) and 294 birth records of babies with normal birth weight (controls) were reviewed. The birth weight of low birth weight babies (cases) ranged from 1000 grams to 2400 grams with median (±IQR) of 2200 grams (±300 grams), whereas it ranged from 2500 grams to 4500 grams with median (±IQR) of 3100 grams (±525 grams) among controls. Preterm birth (AOR = 5.32; CI = 2.959–9.567), history of any physical trauma experienced during pregnancy (AOR = 13.714; CI = 2.382–78.941), and history of any pregnancy complication (AOR = 2.708; CI = 1.634–4.487) were predictors of low birth weight. On the other hand, cesarean delivery (AOR = 0.415; CI = 0.183–0.941) and instrumental (AOR = 0.574; CI = 0.333–0.987) modes of delivery as well as maternal history of chronic diabetes (AOR = 0.275; CI = 0.090–0.836) had preventive effect of low birth weight. Conclusion Preterm birth, history of experiencing any physical trauma during pregnancy, and history of any pregnancy complication were predictors of low birth weight, whereas cesarean and instrumental delivery had positive effect to preventing low birth weight.

Highlights

Low birth weight is the leading cause of infant and child mortality and contributes to several poor health outcomes
Facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from April to June 2016 among deliveries that were performed at Debreberhan Referral Hospital
Babies born to mothers who had history of any physical trauma experienced during pregnancy were about fourteen times more likely to have low birth weight as compared to babies born to mothers who did not have such history (AOR = 13.714; confidence interval (CI) = 2.382–78.941)

Summary

Introduction

Low birth weight is the leading cause of infant and child mortality and contributes to several poor health outcomes. Low birth weight (LBW) is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as weight at birth of less than 2,500 grams This is based on epidemiological observations that infants weighing less than 2,500 grams are at higher risk of neonatal mortality when compared with heavier babies [2]. A birth weight below 2,500 grams is the leading cause of infant and child mortality and contributes to several poor health outcomes [2]. It is associated with poor neurological and cognitive development, childhood morbidity, growth impairment, a range of poor health outcomes, and chronic diseases later in life. It is a cause of both short-term and long-term consequences leading to adverse social and economic impacts [4, 5]

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