College of Health Science, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e39957. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039957. Epub 2012 Jun 29.
Low Birth Weight (LBW) is one of the major risk factor for death in early life. However, little is known about predictors of LBW in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure the incidence and determinants of LBW in a rural population of Ethiopia.
An observational cohort study on pregnant women was conducted from December 2009 to November 2010. During the study period 1295 live birth were registered and the weights of 956 children were measured within 24 hours after birth. Socio-demographic, economic, maternal and organizational factors were considered as a predicators of LBW, defined as birth weight below 2500g. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data, odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) are reported.
The incidence of LBW was 28.3%. It is significantly associated with poverty [OR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.42, 3.05], maternal Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) less than 23 cm [OR 1.6; 95% CI: 1.19, 2.19], not attending ANC [OR 1.6; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.28], mother's experience of physical violence during pregnancy [OR 1.7; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.48], and longer time to walk to health facility [OR 1.6; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.40].
The incidence of LBW was high in Kersa. Babies born to women who were poor, undernourished, experienced physical violence during pregnancy and who had poor access to health services were more likely to be LBW in this part of the country. In this largely poor community where ANC coverage is low, to reduce the incidence of LBW, it is essential to improve access for maternal health care. The involvement of husbands and the community at large to seek collective action on LBW is essential.
低出生体重（LBW）是儿童早期死亡的主要危险因素之一。然而，人们对撒哈拉以南非洲 LBW 的预测因素知之甚少。因此，本研究旨在衡量埃塞俄比亚农村人口中 LBW 的发生率和决定因素。
对 2009 年 12 月至 2010 年 11 月期间的孕妇进行了一项观察性队列研究。在此期间，共登记了 1295 例活产，其中 956 例新生儿在出生后 24 小时内进行了体重测量。社会人口经济学、孕产妇和组织因素被视为 LBW 的预测因素，LBW 定义为出生体重低于 2500 克。使用逻辑回归分析数据，报告比值比（OR）和置信区间（CI）。
LBW 的发生率为 28.3%。它与贫困显著相关[OR 2.1；95%CI：1.42，3.05]、产妇上臂中部周长（MUAC）小于 23 厘米[OR 1.6；95%CI：1.19，2.19]、未参加 ANC [OR 1.6；95%CI：1.12，2.28]、母亲在怀孕期间遭受身体暴力[OR 1.7；95%CI：1.12，2.48]和前往医疗机构的时间较长[OR 1.6；95%CI：1.11，2.40]。
在 Kersa，LBW 的发生率很高。在该国的这一大部分地区，出生于贫困、营养不良、在怀孕期间遭受身体暴力以及获得产妇保健服务机会较差的妇女的婴儿更有可能出现 LBW。在这个 ANC 覆盖率较低的以贫困为主的社区，为了降低 LBW 的发生率，必须改善产妇保健服务的可及性。丈夫和整个社区都必须参与寻求对 LBW 的集体行动。
