PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AMONG INFANTS DELIVERED IN MOTHER AND CHILD HOSPITAL, AKURE, ONDO STATE

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the prevalence and determinants of low birth weight among infants delivered in Mother & Child Hospital, Akure, Ondo-state. A health facility based cross-sectional study was carried out among 350 women of age ranged 15-44 years who delivered babies in the hospital. Interviews and case file of respondents were used to gather data on the associated maternal factors and some characteristics of infant born in the hospital over a three month period (April-June, 2013). Summary statistics for birth weight and its determinants were obtained using descriptive statistics, chi-square and multiple logistic regression was use to identity predictors to LBW. The prevalence of LBW was found to be 19.1%. More than half (53.7%) of the respondents were less than 29 years, 96.9% were married, larger proportion (76.0%) were Yoruba. A higher proportion (50.6%) had secondary education, 5.7% ever had illness before/during the pregnancy, 34.9% took alcohol during the pregnancy while 17.4% were exposed to cigarette smoke. Almost all the births (98.9%) were term and few (10.0%) were of twin births. Average age of respondent at marriage was 24.3±5.0, average birth weight was 2.9±0.6kg and average numbers of ANC visit was 3.2±1.6. Association exist between LBW and maternal's educational level, hypertensive and anaemic status, intake of local liquor, cigarette smoking status, ANC attendance, preterm delivery as well as twin births. The analysis showed that the main predictors of LBW were; secondary education [OR=2.4, 95% C.I (1.2-5.9)], hypertensive respondents [OR=5.5%, 9?i% C.I (9.9-39.9)%], anaemic respondents [OR=4.6%, 95% C.I (0.4-53.4)%], exposure to local liquor intake [OR= 25%, 95% C.l (6.0-90.1)%], respondent who never visited ANC [OR=2.5, 95% C.l {r.1-5.1)], three to four ANC visit [OR=3.2 95% C.I (1.3-8.3)] and twin births [OR=8.6 95% C.l (2.7-28.0)]. The prevalence of LBW is 19.1%. It is recommended that policy makers of this institution to develop a medium such that women of reproductive ages are encouraged to take cognizance of the identified predictors so as to prevent further occurrence of LBW.