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Low birth weight and prenatal care in Colombia: a cross-sectional study

Ángela María Pinzón-Rondón1, Vivian Gutiérrez-Pinzon2, Humberto Madriñan-Navia3

  • 1Escuela de medicina y ciencias de la salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia. angela.pinzon@urosario.edu.co.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
|May 21, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Quality prenatal care, including sufficient visits and early initiation, is crucial for preventing low birth weight (LBW) in developing nations. This study highlights key factors for improving infant health outcomes in Colombia.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) significantly contributes to global child morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries.
  • Existing research on LBW prevention is predominantly from developed nations, leaving a gap in understanding factors relevant to developing economies.
  • Most LBW cases (96.5%) occur in developing countries, emphasizing the need for context-specific interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify specific prenatal care characteristics associated with preventing low birth weight (LBW) in Colombia.
  • To provide evidence-based recommendations for strengthening LBW prevention strategies in a developing country context.

Main Methods:

  • An observational, cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2010 Colombian Demographic and Health Survey.
  • Included 10,692 children, with analyses involving descriptive statistics, bivariate regressions, and stepwise logistic binomial regression.
  • Examined associations between LBW and various prenatal care factors, controlling for other variables.

Main Results:

  • A prevalence of 8.7% for low birth weight (LBW) was observed in the study population.
  • Quality of prenatal care (OR=0.55), number of prenatal visits (OR=0.92), and early initiation of prenatal care (OR=1.08) were significantly associated with LBW.
  • Healthcare provider type and insurance coverage did not show a significant association with LBW.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal care quality, visit frequency, and timing of the first visit are critical factors for LBW prevention in Colombia.
  • Findings offer valuable insights for public health policies aimed at reducing LBW in Colombia and similar socioeconomic settings.
  • The study underscores the importance of tailored prenatal care interventions for improving neonatal outcomes in developing countries.
Abstract

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