Socio-demographic and nutritional determinants of birth weight.

Abstract

Global high prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health concern leads to high neonatal and infant deaths. This study was conducted to find out the prevalence of low birth weight and to effect of associated socio-demographic and nutritional predictors. A total of 200 respondents were approached from January 2016 to June 2016. Data were collected on sociodemographic and nutritional factors by interviewing pregnant mothers. Hemoglobin level and blood pressure data were recorded from mothers’ antenatal care card. Descriptive data revealed that the prevalence of low birth weight was 17%. Correlation matrix showed age and hemoglobin concentration significantly associated with birth outcome. Regression analysis portrayed that one unit increased age and hemoglobin corresponds to the respectively 0.017 and 0.050 unit increased birth weight of the child. To be concluding, teenage mothers and low hemoglobin level were the important risk factors for low birth weight in the study area.