Assessment of Passive Smoke Exposure during Pregnancy and Low Birth Weight: A Case-Control Study among Public Hospitals in Addis Ababa
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Date
2020-12
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Low Birth Weight is a major public health problem in developing countries like
Ethiopia with a prevalence rate of 13% and a higher proportion of women have been exposed to
passive smoking. So far, a number of predictors of low birth weight have been established;
however, passive smoke exposure as a risk factor for low birth weight is hardly understood.
Objective: To assess the association between Passive smoke exposure during Pregnancy and low
birth weight among the selected public hospital attendees in Addis Ababa.
Method: The study used an unmatched facility-based case-control design. Data was collected
using a face to face interview with a structured and pre-tested questionnaire supplemented with
medical chart review. The study was conducted in Addis Ababa among women attending
delivery services in three public hospitals (Mahatma Gandhi, Zewditu Memorial, and Yekatit 12
hospitals) from May to August, 2020 G.C. The overall sample size was assigned for each of the
three health facilities using proportional allocation based on their patient load, and a total of 205
cases of neonates with low birth weight (weight at birth < 2500grams) at term were compared
with 410 controls of neonates born with a birth weight of >=2500 grams at term. The data was
analyzed using both bivariate and multivariable analyses. Binary logistic regression was used to
determine the association between dependent and independent variables at 95% confidence level.
Result: From a total of 205 cases and 408 controls, the proportion of passive smoke exposure
among mothers gave birth at the selected public hospitals (mothers of the controls) was 49% (95
% CI: 44%, 54%) and the odds of delivering low birth weight infant were 4 times higher among
those who had a passive smoke exposure as compared to those who were not exposed during
pregnancy [AOR: 4.1, (95% CI: 2.21, 7.76)]. And among the place of exposure, public place
exposure showed a significant association with low birth weight with [AOR: 6.1 (95% CI: 3.56,
10.65)].
Conclusion and Recommendation: This study demonstrated a very high proportion of passive
smoke exposure among women who gave birth at the public hospitals (mothers of the controls).
And low birth weight is significantly associated with passive smoke exposure during pregnancy.
Likewise, Public place exposure was the only passive smoke exposure predictor that showed
association with low birth weight. Therefore Mothers should protect themselves from Passive Smoke Exposure during pregnancy primarily from exposure at public places, since it is among
preventable risk factors for low birth weight.
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Keywords
Low birth weight, Normal birth weight, passive smoke exposure, Addis Ababa