A cohort study of low birth weight and health outcomes in the first year of life, Ghana

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of birth weight on infant mortality, illness and care seeking in rural Ghana.MethodsUsing randomized controlled trial data, we compared infants weighing 2.00–2.49, 1.50–1.99 and < 1.50 kg with non-low-birth-weight infants. We generated adjusted mortality hazard ratios (aHR), adjusted illness rate ratios (aRR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for health-facility admissions and absence of care seeking for four time periods: infancy, the neonatal period, early infancy and late infancy – represented by ages of 0–364, 0–27, 28–182 and 183–364 days, respectively.FindingsAmong 22 906 infants, compared with non-low-birth-weight infants: (i) infants weighing 2.00–2.49, 1.50–1.99 and < 1.50 kg were about two (aHR: 2.13; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.76–2.59), eight (aHR: 8.21; 95% CI: 6.26–10.76) and 25 (aHR: 25.38; 95% CI: 18.36–35.10) times more likely to die in infancy, respectively; (ii) those born weighing < 1.50 kg were about 48 (aHR: 48.45; 95% CI: 32.81–71.55) and eight (aHR: 8.42; 95% CI: 3.09–22.92) times more likely to die in the neonatal period and late infancy, respectively; (iii) those born weighing 1.50–1.99 kg (aRR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.27–1.95) or < 1.50 kg (aRR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.13–2.21) had higher neonatal illness rates; and (iv) for those born weighing 1.50–1.99 kg, care was less likely to be sought in the neonatal period (aOR: 3.30; 95% CI: 1.98–5.48) and early infancy (aOR : 1.74; 95% CI: 1.26–2.39).ConclusionFor low-birth-weight infants in Ghana, strategies to minimize mortality and improve care seeking are needed.

Associated Factors to Nutritional Status and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices in Rural Area of Burkina Faso: A Study in Ouargaye Health District

“…This proportion is similar to that reported (14%) by the literature in low-income countries [21]. Low birth weight may constitute a risk factor of childhood illness, mortality [22] and non-communicable disease (NCDs) such as diabetes and heart disease later in life [23].…”

Predictors of Low Birth Weight at Lumbini Provincial Hospital, Nepal: A Hospital-Based Unmatched Case Control Study

“…Information regarding birth weight is of great importance as it is an indirect indicator of maternal nutrition and predictive indicator of potential neonatal death and malnutrition if the child survives [3]. LBW babies have higher probability of dying within the first month of life or associated with adverse health outcomes like stunted growth [4], delayed motor and social development or learning disabilities [5], lower IQ [6], and high mortality [7]. Also LBW shares higher proportion of global neonatal mortality which is estimated to be around 60-80% [8].…”

The Profile, Health Seeking Behavior, Referral Patterns, and Outcome of Outborn Neonates Admitted to a District and Regional Hospital in the Upper West Region of Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…These findings could be an indication that ELBW and VLBW patients may have been unstable and therefore could not be stabilized before a referral or the referrals were not completed [14]. This is supported by a study at Kintampo, Ghana, which revealed an absence of care seeking for babies with a birth weight of 1.50-1.99 kg (AOR, 1.46) compared with infants who did not have a low birth weight [17]. In contrast, studies in Uganda, India, South Africa, and Egypt reported admissions of ELBW infants and a higher proportion of VLBW infants than this study [16,[18][19][20].…”