Department of Statistics, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
Department of Mathematics, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Maan, Jordan.
East Mediterr Health J. 2020 Oct 13;26(10):1273-1284. doi: 10.26719/emhj.20.096.
Low birth weight (< 2.5 kg) is an important indicator of health and development of infants throughout their life.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for low birth weight in Jordan and its association with under-5 mortality.
In this secondary analysis, data were extracted from the 2012 Jordan Population and Family Health Survey for 9734 live births born in the 5 years preceding the survey and for which birth weight was reported. Data were collected on child and maternal characteristics. Multivariable regression analysis was used to determine the significant risk factors for low birth weight and mortality.
Of the 9734 births analysed, 13.8% were low birth weight and 1.3% were very low birth weight. Mother's age (< 30 and ≥ 35 years), education (less than higher education), birth interval (< 24 months and first birth), unplanned pregnancy, household wealth status (poorest and richest), consanguinity, residence (central and south regions of Jordan), female sex, birth order (1 and ≥ 6), twin birth and maternal smoking during pregnancy were significant risk factors for low birth weight. The risk of death under 5 years of age was 4.8 times higher in children with low birth weight than children with normal birth weight.
The high rate of low birth weight and its increasing rate in Jordan is a challenge for public health. Preventing low birth weight neonates and increasing their survival need to be prioritized in the national health strategy. Special care needs to be taken for the high-risk groups identified in this study.
低出生体重（<2.5 千克）是婴儿一生健康和发育的重要指标。
本研究旨在确定约旦低出生体重的流行率和危险因素及其与 5 岁以下儿童死亡率的关系。
在这项二次分析中，从 2012 年约旦人口与家庭健康调查中提取了 9734 名在调查前 5 年内出生且报告了出生体重的活产儿的数据。收集了儿童和产妇特征的数据。采用多变量回归分析确定低出生体重和死亡的显著危险因素。
在所分析的 9734 例分娩中，13.8%为低出生体重，1.3%为极低出生体重。母亲年龄（<30 岁和≥35 岁）、教育程度（低于高等教育）、分娩间隔（<24 个月和首次分娩）、非计划妊娠、家庭财富状况（最贫困和最富裕）、近亲结婚、居住地（约旦中部和南部地区）、女性、出生顺序（1 和≥6）、双胞胎分娩和孕妇在怀孕期间吸烟是低出生体重的显著危险因素。低出生体重儿的 5 岁以下死亡风险是正常出生体重儿的 4.8 倍。
约旦低出生体重的高发生率及其增长率是公共卫生的一个挑战。在国家卫生战略中，需要优先预防低出生体重新生儿并提高其存活率。需要特别关注本研究确定的高风险群体。
