Teklehaimanot Gebremichael Aregawi, Gebreslasie Kahsay Zenebe, Werid Woldu Mammo, Gebresilassie Berhanu, Kidanemariam Gebregziabher, Tsegay Etsay Weldekidan, Gufue Zenawi Hagos, Mengesha Meresa Berwo
Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia.
Department of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Front Pediatr. 2024 Dec 24;12:1455248. doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1455248. eCollection 2024.
Low birth weight is a key determinant of child survival, significantly influencing rates of infant and childhood mortality, morbidity, and disability. While some studies have been conducted in our region, there is still a gap in evidence regarding the maternal characteristics associated with low birth weight. Hence, this study aimed to determine the proportion of newborns with low birth weight and determinant factors, particularly focusing on maternal characteristics.
A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 21 March to 20 April 2020 involving mothers and their newborns at selected public health facilities in Mekelle City. The sample included 447 participants, with two public hospitals and three health centers chosen by a lottery method. Systematic random sampling was applied to select mother-newborn pairs. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, with a 95% confidence interval (CI), were used to identify factors associated with low birth weight.
The study included 447 mothers of newborns, achieving a 100% response rate. The proportion of low birth weight was 14.3%. Significant factors associated with low birth weight included attending the first antenatal care (ANC) visit in the third trimester [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.66, 95% CI: 1.28-10.44], not receiving additional nutrition during pregnancy (AOR = 4.16, 95% CI: 1.38-12.58), experiencing obstetric complications during the current pregnancy (AOR = 7.72, 95% CI: 2.76-21.59), and a gestational age at birth of less than 37 weeks (AOR = 5.36, 95% CI: 1.96-14.67).
This study revealed a substantial incidence of low birth weight. The initiation of the first antenatal care visit in the third trimester, failure to supplement nutrition during pregnancy, the occurrence of obstetric complications during pregnancy, and a gestational age at birth less than 37 weeks were all found to be significantly correlated with this condition. It is recommended that policymakers strengthen maternal and child health services, especially through the focused ANC program, to improve outcomes. Health facilities should promote awareness of the importance of initiating ANC visits early, with an emphasis on nutritional counseling throughout pregnancy.
低出生体重是儿童生存的关键决定因素，对婴儿及儿童期的死亡率、发病率和残疾率有重大影响。虽然我们所在地区已经开展了一些研究，但关于与低出生体重相关的母亲特征的证据仍存在空白。因此，本研究旨在确定低出生体重新生儿的比例及其决定因素，尤其关注母亲特征。
于2020年3月21日至4月20日在梅克内斯市选定的公共卫生机构开展了一项基于机构的横断面研究，研究对象为母亲及其新生儿。样本包括447名参与者，通过抽签法选取了两家公立医院和三家卫生中心。采用系统随机抽样方法选取母婴对。使用结构化的、由访谈员实施的问卷收集数据，并使用社会科学统计软件包第21版进行分析。采用95%置信区间（CI）的二元和多元逻辑回归分析来确定与低出生体重相关的因素。
该研究纳入了447名新生儿母亲，应答率达到100%。低出生体重的比例为14.3%。与低出生体重相关的显著因素包括在孕晚期首次进行产前检查（ANC）[调整后的优势比（AOR）=3.66，95%CI：1.28 - 10.44]、孕期未接受额外营养补充（AOR = 4.16，95%CI：1.38 - 12.58）、本次妊娠期间出现产科并发症（AOR = 7.72，95%CI：2.76 - 21.59）以及出生时孕周小于37周（AOR = 5.36，95%CI：1.96 - 14.67）。
本研究揭示了低出生体重的相当高的发生率。孕晚期首次进行产前检查、孕期未补充营养、孕期出现产科并发症以及出生时孕周小于37周均被发现与这种情况显著相关。建议政策制定者加强母婴健康服务，特别是通过有针对性的产前检查项目来改善结果。卫生机构应提高对早期进行产前检查重要性的认识，并在整个孕期强调营养咨询。
