Kassie Gizachew Ambaw, Gebrekidan Amanuel Yosef, Adella Getachew Asmare, Woldegeorgis Beshada Zerfu, Haile Kirubel Eshetu, Workineh Alemu, Asgedom Yordanos Sisay
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Science and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.
School of Public Health, College of Health Science and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.
Ital J Pediatr. 2025 Jul 15;51(1):222. doi: 10.1186/s13052-025-02074-9.
Socioeconomic inequality remains a critical determinant of health outcomes worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Kenya, one of the most pressing maternal and child health challenges is the high prevalence of low birth weight (LBW), which is a key indicator of infant health and a strong predictor of neonatal and child morbidity and mortality. Therefore, exploring socioeconomic inequality and the determinants of LBW in Kenya is essential for developing effective policies and interventions.
A cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey. A weighted total sample of 4717 live births in the two years prior to the survey was included in the study. The concentration index and concentration curve were used to investigate socioeconomic inequality in LBW among newborns. In addition, a multilevel regression model was used to identify the determinants, and the adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to determine statistical significance.
The prevalence of low birth weight among live births in Kenya was 8.71%. It was inequitably distributed across socioeconomic groups, with a concentration index of (-0.0295), with a higher concentration of LBW infants among mothers living in the lowest socioeconomic quintile. Mothers without formal education, poor wealth index, female sex, multiple births, and antenatal care visits were all significant predictors of LBW.
This study highlights that LBW remains a significant issue in Kenya, disproportionately concentrated in households in the lowest socioeconomic quintile. Factors such as lack of maternal education, poverty, being female, being a twin, and inadequate antenatal care visits were significant predictors. To address these issues, it is important to improve maternal education, economic prosperity, healthcare accessibility, gender-sensitive approaches, and specialized care for multiple pregnancies, and encourage regular antenatal care visits for better birth outcomes and to reduce LBW prevalence. Hence, Kenyan governments and non-governmental organizations should address the complex factors to improve birth outcomes and reduce LBW.
社会经济不平等仍是全球健康结果的关键决定因素，在低收入和中等收入国家尤其如此。在肯尼亚，最紧迫的母婴健康挑战之一是低出生体重（LBW）的高患病率，低出生体重是婴儿健康的关键指标，也是新生儿和儿童发病及死亡的有力预测指标。因此，探索肯尼亚的社会经济不平等及低出生体重的决定因素对于制定有效的政策和干预措施至关重要。
使用2022年肯尼亚人口与健康调查的二手数据进行了一项横断面研究。该研究纳入了调查前两年内4717例活产的加权总样本。采用集中指数和集中曲线来研究新生儿低出生体重的社会经济不平等情况。此外，使用多水平回归模型来确定决定因素，并使用95%置信区间的调整比值比来确定统计学意义。
肯尼亚活产儿中低出生体重的患病率为8.71%。其在社会经济群体中分布不均，集中指数为（-0.0295），社会经济最底层五分之一的母亲中低出生体重婴儿的比例更高。未接受过正规教育的母亲、贫困财富指数、女性、多胞胎和产前检查次数都是低出生体重的重要预测因素。
本研究强调，低出生体重在肯尼亚仍然是一个重大问题，在社会经济最底层五分之一的家庭中尤为集中。缺乏母亲教育、贫困、女性、双胞胎以及产前检查不足等因素是重要的预测因素。为解决这些问题，改善母亲教育、经济繁荣、医疗可及性以及对多胎妊娠的性别敏感方法和专门护理，并鼓励定期进行产前检查以获得更好的出生结果并降低低出生体重患病率非常重要。因此，肯尼亚政府和非政府组织应应对这些复杂因素，以改善出生结果并降低低出生体重率。
