PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AMONG MOTHERS WHO GAVE BIRTH IN WOLKITE UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZED AND TEACHING HOSPITAL,SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Low birth weight is defined as birth weight less than 2,500 grams. More than 20 million infants are born each year weighing less than 2500 gm., accounting for17% of all births in the developing world. Similarly, according to Ethiopian demographic and health survey (EDHS 2016), 11% weighed less than 2500 gm. Birth weight plays an important role in infant mortality and morbidity, development, and future health of the child. Objectives: The main objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of low birth weight and identify associated factors in Wolkite University Specialized and teaching Hospital. Methodology: The study was institutional based cross sectional study design among randomly selected 185 mothers who gave birth in in the teaching Hospital. It was conducted by taking accurate weight of new born and interviewing mother. The data analysis methods used was SPSS version 20, using uni-variate for frequencies, bi-variant analysis to see association between independent and dependent variables. Crude and adjusted odds ratio has reported along with p-value at 95% confidence interval. Ethical support letter was obtained from Wolkite University and verbal informed consent will be obtained Result : A total of 185 mothers were interviewed in this study with a response rate of100%. The prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) is 17.8%.preterm births (OR; 38.9;95% CI: 4.6,328.9)), medical illness during pregnancy (OR;17.12;95% CI:5.702,51.395)), substance use of the mothers (OR;15.96; 95% CI: 3.06,83.2) and sex of the child (OR;9.1(3.69,22.38) with important factors associated with low birth weight among children. Female in their sex are more than three (3) times likelihood of having low birth weight (OR: 9.1(3.96,22.38)) than male newborns. Even if it is not significant, mothers of younger age have more than four times chance of having LBW relative tothe older mothers. From mothers with history of APH during the pregnancy, nearly90% of them had LBW babies and from mothers who have history of malaria almost80% of them had LBW babies. Conclusion :there is relatively high prevalence of low birth weight in WKUSH as compared with studies done in different areas in different times .Hence, the health professionals, the health policy makers as well as the government should give attention for modifiable, preventable & irreducible risk factors like medical illness, substance use and anything that causes preterm deliveries