Kubio Chrysantus, Abanga Williams Azumah, Zeng Victor, Bosoka Samuel Adolf, Afetor Maxwell, Djokoto Senanu Kwesi, Baiden Frank
Volta Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Ho, Ghana.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025 Apr 26;25(1):511. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07639-4.
Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant determinant of newborn survival, child health and development. There is limited information on the burden and geographical distribution of neonates with LBW in the Volta Region of Ghana. We determined the incidence and distribution of LBW in the region from 2019 to 2023.
A review of institutional birth weights in the Volta Region from 2019 to 2023 was performed using data extracted from the District Health Information Management System. The variables extracted were live births, birth weight, parity of mother, district and year. We performed descriptive statistics and presented the results in a table, graph and map.
A total of 190,385 live births were recorded, with 15,960 LBW neonates, 8.4% [95% CI: 8.3-8.5]. The trend of LBWs ranged from 8.5% in 2019 to 8.2% in 2023, with the highest value of 8.8% in 2022. The majority of LBWs were recorded among multiparous mothers (59.8%, 95% CI: 59.1-60.6%). LBW cases were recorded across all districts in the region with the highest rate, 12.0% in Ho, and South Dayi Districts and the lowest rate, 2.0% in Afadzato South District.
The incidence of LBW in the Volta region from 2019 to 2023 was 8.4%, with notable variations across districts. The highest rates were observed in Ho and South Dayi, whereas Afadzato South recorded the lowest rates. These findings provide a basis for further studies to reduce the incidence of LBW in the Volta Region of Ghana.
低出生体重是新生儿存活、儿童健康与发育的一个重要决定因素。关于加纳沃尔特地区低出生体重新生儿的负担及地理分布的信息有限。我们确定了该地区2019年至2023年低出生体重的发生率及分布情况。
利用从地区卫生信息管理系统提取的数据，对沃尔特地区2019年至2023年机构记录的出生体重进行了回顾。提取的变量包括活产数、出生体重、母亲的胎次、地区和年份。我们进行了描述性统计，并以表格、图表和地图形式呈现结果。
共记录了190,385例活产，其中有15,960例低出生体重新生儿，占8.4% [95%置信区间：8.3 - 8.5]。低出生体重的趋势从2019年的8.5%到2023年的8.2%，2022年最高值为8.8%。大多数低出生体重儿记录在经产妇中（59.8%，95%置信区间：59.1 - 60.6%）。该地区所有地区均有低出生体重病例记录，霍区和南达伊区发生率最高，为12.0%，阿法扎托南区发生率最低，为2.0%。
2019年至2023年沃尔特地区低出生体重的发生率为8.4%，各地区存在显著差异。霍区和南达伊区发生率最高，而阿法扎托南区发生率最低。这些发现为进一步研究降低加纳沃尔特地区低出生体重发生率提供了依据。
