Bio - Social Determinants of Mothers of LBW Babies and Association of Their Health Knowledge Regarding Low Birth Weight Babies : A Community Based Study in an Urban Slum (Dilawarganj) Near MGM Medical College, Kishanganj, Bihar

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health problem in developing countries including India. The epidemiological observations depicted that infants weighing lesser than 2500 g are approximately 20 times more likely to die than heavier babies, closely associated with the fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. The present study was undertaken with the objectives to find out the relevant socio-demographic and biological determinants of Low Birth Weight babies and to assess the degree of association between impact of health education and Low birth weight babies. METHODS: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from May -August 2013 in Dilawarganj, an urban slum, the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, MGM Medical College, Kishanganj, Bihar. Study population comprised of women in 3 rd trimester of pregnancy belonged to DILAWARGANJ urban slum area. 100 mothers of low birth weight and normal birth weight babies at urban slum of Kishanganj (Among them 33 mothers had delivered LBW babies & 67 mothers had delivered normal babies) were selected and interviewed through house to house survey with the help of a pre-designed, pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the sociodemographic factors that have been considered in the present study, it was observed that 51.5% mothers belong to age group 20 -29, 84.8% mothers from Muslim community, 66.67% mothers were illiterate, 69.7% mothers were multipara,75.76% mothers reside in a nuclear family 60.6% mothers were engaged in agricultural fields66.67% belong to lower and poor socio-economic group. It was also observed that 84.85% mothers do not consumes extra meals, 81.82% do not take adequate rest & sleep, 93.9% mothers take less than 100 IFA tablets, 69.7% mothers attend less than 3 ANC, 84.85% mothers practice exclusive breast feeding and 78.8% mother give vaccines to their babies. CONCLUSION: The study of LBW baby in Kishanganj, Bihar has highlighted the factors regarding high prevalence of LBW baby and identified socio-demographic profile and common existing problems. To combat these factors, better training to health care providers should be done and implementation of different policies by the government was needed.