Prevalence and determinants of low birth weight: the situation in a traditional birth home in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The traditional birth attendant delivers majority of pregnant women in Nigeria. Objective: This study aimed at determining the prevalence and associated risk factors for delivery of low birth weight (LBW) neonates in a Traditional Birth Home (TBH)in Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 780 pregnant women who received ante-natal care at a TBH and live singletons born to them were recruited for this study. Venous blood was collected from all pregnant women at onset of labour, and haemogblobin concentration determined using standard method. Results: The prevalence of low birth weight was 6.3%, and was significantly affected by maternal age (P =0.039), gestational age (P=0.019), maternal height (P = 0.001), marital status (P = 0.015), and time of registration (P = 0.016). Being in a polygamous union, was significantly associated with the prevalence of LBW (OR = 13.640; 95%CI: = 6.148, 30.261; P = < 0.0001). Maternal anaemia was identified as a risk factor for the delivering of LBW neonates (OR = 2.797; 95% CI = 1.555, 5.029; P = 0.0001). Conclusion:The prevalence of low birth weight was 6.3%. Intervention by appropriate agencies is advocated to reduce LBW in TBHs in Nigeria.

Low birth weight among adolescents at Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital of Ghana

“…13,17,22 The association between these factors and LBW could not however be determined in this study. This was because the delivery books used for this study did not capture data on these factors and this was one of the limitations of the study.…”

“…11,13,22,23 The association between multiple birth and low birth weight has been established but this analysis could not determine it for lack of statistics. Being primigravid was not associated with higher risk of LBW among adolescents in this study and this was at variance with the results of a study in United States.…”

“…This result agrees with documented studies that shorter periods of gestation or preterm delivery was associated with LBW. 13,22 Maybe, the neonates born prematurely did not get enough time to achieve normal weight.…”

Statistical Analysis of Birth Weight and Gender of Newborn Infants

“…Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) occurs when the fetus for any reason fails to get enough nutrients for its development. Some of the known reasons are hypertension, anaemia and malaria in pregnancy [19,20,21]. When the intrauterine environment is conducive and there is a good supply of nutrients across the normal feto-placental membrane, fetal growth and weight gain may then depend on the genetic factors [22].…”

High parity and chronic energy deficiency increase risk for low birth weight in Situbondo District

“…Findings from these studies are still inconsistent and the majority were conducted at the hospital and not many studies adopted community based research. 4,5,6,7 The high prevalence of LBW in Bungatan Subdistrict indicates the need for a further study examining its associated risk factors. Understanding these risk factors will enable further preventative measures.…”