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Prevalence and Determinants of Low Birth Weight in India: Findings From a Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional

Siaa Girotra1, Neha Mohan1, Mansi Malik1

  • 1Indian Institute of Public Health - Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, IND.

Cureus
|May 1, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight (LBW) affects 17.29% of newborns in India. Higher maternal education and wealth reduce LBW risk, while antenatal care visits do not significantly impact it.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Neonatal Health
  • Maternal Health

Background:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) is a critical indicator of infant mortality, particularly in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs).
  • Globally, 15.5% of infants are born with LBW, with 95% occurring in LMICs.
  • India faces a significant burden of LBW, necessitating focused research on its determinants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) in India.
  • To identify key maternal determinants associated with LBW in newborns.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted during 2019-2021.
  • Included 175,240 women aged 15-49 with singleton pregnancies in the preceding five years.
  • Employed bivariate analysis and logistic regression to assess maternal factors influencing birth weight.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of LBW was 17.29% (n=26,366), with 6% (n=1,450) classified as very low birth weight (<1500 g).
  • Increased maternal education and higher wealth index were significantly associated with reduced odds of LBW.
  • Antenatal care (ANC) visits showed no statistically significant association with LBW odds.

Conclusions:

  • The incidence of LBW in India has remained stable, despite economic progress and increased public health investments.
  • Enhancing the quality of ANC services is crucial, emphasizing maternal nutrition awareness and sensitization.
  • Prioritizing maternal nutrition interventions within ANC services is essential for reducing LBW.
Abstract

Keywords:
antenatal care visitslow birth-weightmaternal healthmaternal-child healthnfhs-5survey research

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