Factors associated with low birthweight in North Shewa zone, Central Ethiopia: case-control study

Abstract

BackgroundLow birthweight (LBW) is an important predictor of neonatal and post neonatal child morality. Though its risk factors have been extensively studied in the developed world; limited epidemiological evidence is available in developing countries including Ethiopia. The purpose of the study is to determine the risk factors of LBW in North Shewa zone, Central Ethiopia.MethodsUnmatched case-control study involving 94 cases and 376 controls was conducted from Jan to Mar 2017 in three public hospitals in the zone. A case was defined as a singleton live birth with birthweight less than 2.5 kg; whereas, a control was a newborn that weighs 2.5–4.0 kg. Cases and controls were recruited on an ongoing basis until the required sample sizes were fulfilled. Data were collected by interviewing mothers, reviewing medical records and measuring the anthropometry of the mothers and the newborns. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors of LBW. The outputs of the analyses are presented using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the respective 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsMothers with no formal education had two times increased odds of delivering LBW babies than women with formal education [AOR = 2.20 (95% CI: 1.11, 4.38)]. Mothers with no history of nutrition counseling during pregnancy had three times increased odds of giving LBW babies than those who were counseled [AOR = 3.35 (95% CI: 1.19, 9.43)]. Non-married women had higher odds of giving LBW newborns as compared to married ones [AOR = 3.54 (95% CI: 1.83, 6.83)]. Mothers from food insecure households had about four times higher odds of LBW as compared to food secure mothers [AOR = 4.42 (95% CI: 1.02,22.25)]. In contrast to mothers who had the recommended four or more antenatal care (ANC) visits, those who were not booked had three times increased odds of giving to LBW baby [AOR = 3.03 (95% CI: 1.19,7.69)].ConclusionImproving the socio-economic status of mothers, enhancing the utilization of ANC and strengthening the integration of nutrition counseling into ANC help to reduce LBW.

Household food insecurity associated with gestacional and neonatal outcomes: a systematic review

“…Regarding the study design, most of the studies used a cross-sectional design (n = 20; 54%), followed by a longitudinal design (n = 10; 27%), a longitudinal design with intervention or clinical trials (n = 4; 10.8%), or a case-control design (n = 3; 8.2%). Among the publications analysed, 30 articles (81%) evaluated outcomes associated with FI exclusively during pregnancy, and seven studies (19%) evaluated the relationship between FI and outcomes among newborns [13,[24][25][26][27][28][29]. Table S1 also shows the methodologies used to assess FI in the studies.…”

“…Regarding the association of FI and neonatal outcomes, other surveys investigated low birth weight (LBW) [28], prematurity [27], hearing disorders [26] and neonatal abstinence syndrome [29].…”

“…Despite neonatal vulnerability, the present systematic review showed that of the 37 articles selected, only seven (19%) investigated the outcomes associated with FI in this period, such as birth defects [13], birth mortality 25, introduction of artificial feeding [25], prematurity [27], LBW [28], hearing disorders [26], and neonatal abstinence syndrome [29].…”

“…It was also observed that FI increased the prevalence of birth defects [13], neonatal mortality [24] and early weaning [25]. In addition, premature births also occurred due to stressful events in pregnancy [62], and FI was associated with premature birth in pregnancy in an Iranian study [27] and with LBW [28].…”

WITHDRAWN: Determinants of Adverse Birth Outcome in West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia Hospital Based Unmatched Case-control Study

“…Number of ANC follow up is signi cantly associated with adverse birth outcome, mothers who had history of less than four ANC visits were two times more likely to have ABOs than those who had more than four ANC visits. This nding is supported by study conducted Cameroon, India, Malawi, Addis Ababa, Tigrai region, Amahara region, North shewa zone, central Ethiopia (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). This might be due to the fact that those mothers who had four or more ANC visits have access to different health promotive and preventive interventions which are used to enhances health of both the mother and fetus.…”