ASSESSMENT OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND ASSOCIATED FACTOR AMONG NEWBORNS AT GURAGE ZONE HOSPITALS, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, 2023

Abstract

Introduction: More than 20 million infants worldwide, representing 15.5% of all births are born with low birth weight, of which 95.6% are in developing countries. In low-income countries, many low-birth-weight newborns often miss the chance for survival sooner or later.One of the key strategies to reduce infant mortality rates and improve child health is improving birth weight; however, low birth weight is significantly higher in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, the magnitude of low birth weight among newborns is high and yet has been contributing a lot to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of low birth weight among newborn in Gurage zone hospitals, South Ethiopia. Methods and Materials: A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 505 newborns in Gurage Zone hospitals. Data was collected using a structured, pre-tested interviewer-guided questionnaire that was prepared by reviewing similar literature and the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2019. Six data collectors, who are diploma midwives,and three BSC midwife supervisors were recruited. Data were cleaned manually, coded, and entered into Epi Data Entry 4.6 and analyzed by SPSS version 24 statistical software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used, and variables with a P value less than 0.2 were included in multivariable logistic regression. The adjusted odd ratio along with the 95% CI was calculated to see the strength of the association, and P<0.05 was taken as the level of statistical significance. Results: A total of 505 newborns and their index mothers were planned to participate in the study. Among the planned, 496 completed the study with a response rate of 96.3%. The findings showed that 85 (17.1%), with a 95% CI of 13.9–20.4%, of the newborns had a low birth weight. Mothers with a previous low birth weight AOR = 3.15, 95% CI = 1.08, 9.21), chronic medical illness (AOR = 3.49, 95% CI = 1.09, 11.10), current pregnancy complication (AOR = 2.29, 95%CI = 1.24, 4.24), and being female (AOR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.13–4.01) were significantly associated with low birth weight.Conclusion: The prevalence of low birth weight among newborns was 85 (17.1%), with a 95% CI of 13.9–20.4%. We recommended that a high-risk approach be taken, and these women need to be monitored frequently and treated to prevent low birth weight