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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Wealth status, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and antenatal care (ANC) are determinants for low birth weight in

Nega Assefa1, Yemane Berhane, Alemayehu Worku

  • 1College of Health Science, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia. negaassefa@yahoo.com

Plos One
|July 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight (LBW) affects 28.3% of newborns in rural Ethiopia, linked to poverty and poor maternal health access. Interventions should focus on improving maternal healthcare and community support to reduce LBW incidence.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Low Birth Weight (LBW) is a critical risk factor for infant mortality globally.
  • Predictors of LBW in sub-Saharan Africa remain under-researched, necessitating localized studies.
  • This study addresses the knowledge gap by investigating LBW incidence and determinants in rural Ethiopia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of Low Birth Weight (LBW) in a rural Ethiopian population.
  • To identify key socio-demographic, economic, maternal, and organizational factors associated with LBW.
  • To inform targeted interventions for LBW prevention in the region.

Main Methods:

  • An observational cohort study was conducted with pregnant women from December 2009 to November 2010.
  • Birth weights of 956 infants were measured within 24 hours, with LBW defined as <2500g.
  • Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify significant predictors of LBW.

Main Results:

  • The incidence of LBW was found to be 28.3% in the study population.
  • Significant predictors of LBW included poverty, maternal Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) <23 cm, and not attending antenatal care (ANC).
  • Other significant factors were maternal experience of physical violence during pregnancy and longer travel time to health facilities.

Conclusions:

  • The high incidence of LBW in Kersa highlights critical maternal health challenges.
  • Poverty, undernutrition, violence during pregnancy, and limited access to healthcare significantly increase LBW risk.
  • Improving maternal healthcare access and community engagement are crucial for reducing LBW rates.
Abstract

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