Principal Component Analysis of Birth Weight of Child, Maternal Pregnancy Weight and Maternal Pregnancy Body Mass Index: A Multivariate Analysis

Abstract

Background: Birth weight, maternal body mass index and maternal weight is perhaps the most important and reliable indicator for neonatal and infant survival as well as their physical growth and mental development. The main objective of this study was identifying the determinants of birth weight, maternal body mass index and maternal weight simultaneously based on Ethiopia demographic health survey 2016 which implemented in statistical package R. Methods: Cross sectional study design was used from Ethiopia demographic health survey 2016. From principal component model shows the total population variance of first two components were 97% of the variation then the two components replace the original three responses variables birth weight, maternal body mass index and maternal weight without much loss of information. Therefore bi-variate linear regression model was used to identify factors that affect the first two principal components of birth weight, maternal body mass index and maternal weight simultaneously. Results: This study shows family size, region, frequency of read newspaper, frequency of watch television and preferred waiting time for birth were statistically significant at 5% level of significance for first principal component. In addition, size of child, region and maternal age group are statistically significant for second principal components of birth weight of child, maternal pregnancy weight and maternal pregnancy body mass index in Ethiopia. Conclusion: From this finding family size, region, frequency of read newspaper, and frequency of watch television, size of child, maternal age group and preferred waiting time were significant predictors of the first two principal components simultaneously. Hence,-intervention should be given to the pregnant during antenatal care for minimizing the risk.