Nutritional Determinants of Birth Weight Status of Newborns at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya

Abstract

Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health problem and cause of mortality and morbidity in infants, especially in developing countries. Globally, 15.5% of all babies are born with a LBW and 95.6% of them in developing countries. In Kenya, 8% of babies are born with a LBW and at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) it is 11.1%. Despite several efforts such as antenatal care services put in place to improve the quality of maternal and child health, the rates of LBW are still high. This study assessed the nutritional determinants of birth weight status of newborns at JOOTRH, Kenya. This was a cross-sectional study with a sample size of 131 babies and their mothers, from a total population of 538 deliveries during the study period. Systematic random sampling was used to select the respondents. Data was collected using a questionnaire and anthropometric assessment form. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The prevalence of low birthweight was 13.7%. LBW was strongly associated with total weight gain during pregnancy (AOR = 7.235, 95% CI: 1.223 - 42.776), mid-upper-arm circumference (AOR = 7.737, 95% CI: 1.39 - 42.784), meals taken per day (AOR = 6.99, 95% CI: 0.975 - 50.119) and haemoglobin levels (COR = 3.267, 95% CI: 1.065 - 10.02). Standing or straining during pregnancy had no association with LBW. A focused antenatal clinic with emphasis on nutrition health education and counseling on healthy eating during pregnancy to promote the recommended weight gain are all important in reducing LBW. Key words: Newborn, Birth weight, Low birth weight, Prevalence, nutritional determinants