BACKGOUND: Reducing infant mortality is a global priority which is particularly relevant in developing countries including Ethiopia. One of the key strategies to reduce infant mortality rate and improving child health is improving birth weight; however, low birth weight is significantly higher in Ethiopia. The main aim of this study was to determine prevalence and identify associated factors of low birth weight among newborns in Gondar town, North West Ethiopia.METHODS: An institution based cross-sectional study was employed. Systematic sampling was used to select 540 study participants. A pre tested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was entered, cleaned and edited using EPI INFO version 2002 and exported to SPSS version 16.0 software packages for analysis. Both bivariate and multiple logistic regression were fitted and odds ratio and 95% CI were computed to identify associated factors and determine the strength of association. A p-value of <0.05 was considered as statistical significant. RESULT: The response rate was 100%.The mean gestational age of the newborns was 39.49±1.53 weeks. The mean age of the respondents was 25.8±5.5 years. The overall prevalence of low birth weight was 17.4%. The covariates pregnancy-induced hypertension (AOR 9.2(95%CI 3.36, 25.3)), malaria attack during pregnancy (AOR 4.9(95%CI 1.95, 12.3)), female sex newborn (AOR 2.1, (95%CI 1.18, 3.76)) and gestational age less than 37 weeks (AOR 18, 95%CI 5.8, 31.2)) were found to be significantly associated with birth weight of new born. CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of low birth weight in the study area. Effective treatment and preventive of malaria and pregnancy induced hypertension; prevention of preterm birth could reduce low birth weight.

Introduction: Every day, at least 1.600 women die worldwide from the complication of Pregnancy and child birth, 90% of which occurring in Asia and Sub Saharan Africa. These shows, maternal death in developing country is higher than developed countries. One of the contributing factors for these problems is cultural malpractices practiced during pregnancy, child birth and post natal periods. The actual incidence of cultural malpractices in developing country accounts for about 5-15% of maternal deaths. The objective of the research was to assess prevalence of cultural malpractice and associated factors among women attending MCH clinic at Debretabor Town governmental health institutions South Gondar, Amhara region North Ethiopia 2015 G.C. Methods:An institution based cross-sectional study was employed. Systematic sampling was used to select 355 study participants. A pre tested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was entered, cleaned and edited using EPI INFO version 2002 and exported to SPSS version 20 software packages for analysis. Both bivariate and multiple logistic regression were fitted and odds ratio and 95% CI were computed to identify associated factors and determine the strength of association. A p-value of <0.05 was considered as statistical significant.Results: A total of 355 mothers participated with response rate of 100%. The prevalence of cultural malpractice was found to be 25.6%.Ggrand para (AOR 3.466: 1.926, 6.236) was factors significantly associated with cultural malpractice among mothers attended MCH clinic. Conclusion and recommendation:The prevalence of cultural malpractice in the study area was found to be high. Grand shows significant association with cultural malpractice among mothers attended MCH clinic. So, high effort needed to be worked on this target population.

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