EC Nutrition

Background: Low birth weight is a substantial public health problem worldwide and considered as the single most important predictor of infant mortality and a valuable public health indicator of maternal health, nutrition, and poverty. Nonetheless, the problem has not been studied despite the substantial maternal deliveries attended in the studied site and therefore we examined the level of low birth weight and its contributory factors among newborns delivered at the center for some programmatic initiatives.

Objective: To assess level of low birth weight and its contributory factors among newborns delivered in All African leprosy and tuberculosis training and rehabilitation center (ALERT) center during the study period.

Method: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among 242 pregnant mothers who delivered at All African leprosy and tuberculosis training and rehabilitation center, Addis Ababa from July to September 2019. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio demographic characteristics, reproductive health services, dietary history, maternal MUAC and birthweight. To estimate the association of with low birth weight, multiple binary logistic regression analyses was used. Odds ratio with its corresponding 95% CI was used as a measure of effect. A P value < 0.05 was used as a cutoff point to declare significance.

Result: The proportion of newborns with low birth weight was 19.4%. The major determinants for LBW were having low Dietary diversity score (AOR = 3.48; 95%CI = 1.49 - 8.130), fasting during pregnancy (AOR = 3.13; 95% CI = 1.20 - 8.18), received no prenatal supplement (AOR = 2.64; 95%CI = 1.03 - 6.75) and had ANC visit of less than 6 times (AOR = 2.33; 95%CI = 1.04 - 5.23).

Conclusion: Nearly one in five newborn delivered in the center had low birth weight. Having low Dietary diversity score, fasting during pregnancy, had no prenatal supplement and ANC visit of less than 6 times were the major predictors. Actions targeting the above predictors through appropriate health and nutrition counseling are recommended.

Keywords: Low Birth Weight; Women Dietary Diversity; Prenatal Supplement; Fasting

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