The Assessment of Low Birth Weight among Children Born to Elder Women and its Associated factors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Date
2020-03
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Birth weight is the single essential factor determining the survival, growth, and
development of infants. LBW is defined by the WHO as weight at birth less than 2500 gram,
while very LBW is considered as a; birth weight less than 1500gram, on the other hand very
extremely LBW a; birth weight less than 1000gram, regardless of gestational age. Pregnancy
after the age of 35 confers risk to both child and maternal health it has been broadly documented.
In particular, positive association between old maternal age and risk of LBW and preterm birth.
Neonatal mortality is 20 times higher among LBW babies compared to their counterparts.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of LBW born to older women and its risk factors in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia 2020.
Method: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from Oct 2019 to DEC 2020, in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 625 old age women delivered in health institutions were
selected by using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using an intervieweradministered
structured questionnaire. The collected data were coded and entered into the
computer using Epi Data version 3.1 and the data were analyzed using STATA version 15
descriptive statistics was carried. In addition binary logistic regression model was used to
determine the association between different factors and low birth weight. Finally, adjusted odds
ratio results from a multivariate logistic regression were used to measure the strength, direction,
and significance of the association between the different independent variables and low birth
weight, the dependent variable. The level of significance was decided to be when p < 0.05, that
given a 95% confidence interval for the test statistic.
Result: The prevalence of low birth weight was found to be 15.04 % (95% CI 12.4-18.1). Age of
the mothers (40-49 years) [AOR=[AOR=3.16: 1.06, 9.46]], low-income status [AOR=4.33:1.24,
15.19], mothers who had mid-upper arm circumference less than 23cm [AOR=4.49:1.26,16.02],
mothers who gave birth before 37 weeks gestational age [AOR=6.87:2.76,17.07], mothers who
had a previous abortion history [AOR=4.22:1.45,9.66] and those who had pregnancy-induced
hypertension [AOR=5.80:2.23, 15.18] were more likely associated with low birth weight.
Conclusion: The prevalence of low-birth-weight is high compared with national studies among
elderly mothers. Age group, monthly family income, mid-upper arm circumference, gestational
week, history of abortion and pregnancy induce hypertension were found to be significantly
associated with LBW.
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Keywords
Low birth weight