Adugna Dagnew Getnet, Worku Misganaw Gebrie
Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Front Pediatr. 2022 Aug 15;10:899922. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.899922. eCollection 2022.
Low birth weight is a major contributory factor to infant mortality. Although low birth weight remains an important public health problem in Ethiopia, little emphasis is paid to its intervention as a means of reducing neonatal mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of low birth weight and its associated maternal and neonatal factors in newborns delivered at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.
Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted, and 481 study participants were selected using systematic random sampling methods. Pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression was implemented. Finally, the odds ratio with a 95% CI and a -value of <0.05 were used to identify factors associated with low birth weight.
The prevalence of low birth weight was 12.5% (95% CI; 9.8, 15.7%). Preterm birth (AOR = 38; 95% CI: 15.3, 93.0), pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) (AOR = 2.6; 95%CI: 1.1, 6.4), maternal body mass index (BMI) of < 18.5 kg/m (AOR = 6.8; 95% CI: 1.5, 31.1), and grand multiparity (AOR = 4.2; 95% CI: 1.2, 16) were factors positively associated with low birth weight. However, babies delivered from mothers with age > 35 years (AOR = 0.14:95% CI 0.03, 0.7) had lower odds of low birth weight.
In this study, the prevalence of low birth weight was higher than in the previous studies. The study revealed preterm birth, PIH, BMI of < 18.5 kg/m, and grand multiparity were independent factors that increase the low birth weight while maternal age > 35 years reduces the low birth weight. Therefore, healthcare professionals should emphasize the early identification and management of women with PIH, tackling prematurity, and preventing maternal malnutrition through nutritional counseling as much as possible.
低出生体重是婴儿死亡的一个主要促成因素。尽管在埃塞俄比亚，低出生体重仍然是一个重要的公共卫生问题，但作为降低新生儿死亡率的一种手段，对其干预措施的重视程度却很低。本研究的目的是评估贡德尔大学综合专科医院出生的新生儿中低出生体重的发生率及其相关的孕产妇和新生儿因素。
开展了一项基于医院的横断面研究，采用系统随机抽样方法选取了481名研究参与者。使用经过预测试的访谈式问卷收集数据。实施了双变量和多变量二元逻辑回归分析。最后，采用95%置信区间的比值比和<0.05的P值来确定与低出生体重相关的因素。
低出生体重的发生率为12.5%（95%置信区间：9.8，15.7%）。早产（调整后比值比[AOR]=38；95%置信区间：15.3，93.0）、妊娠期高血压（PIH）（AOR=2.6；95%置信区间：1.1，6.4）、孕产妇体重指数（BMI）<18.5kg/m²（AOR=6.8；95%置信区间：1.5，31.1）以及多产（AOR=4.2；95%置信区间：1.2，16）是与低出生体重呈正相关的因素。然而，母亲年龄>35岁的婴儿出现低出生体重的几率较低（AOR=0.14；95%置信区间：0.03，0.7）。
在本研究中，低出生体重的发生率高于以往研究。该研究表明，早产、PIH、BMI<18.5kg/m²以及多产是增加低出生体重的独立因素，而母亲年龄>35岁则会降低低出生体重的发生率。因此，医疗保健专业人员应强调对PIH女性的早期识别和管理，应对早产问题，并尽可能通过营养咨询预防孕产妇营养不良。
