Health Consequences of low birth Weight in Ethiopia
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Date
1989-05
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
An historical cohort of 116 low birth weight (LBW) and an
equal number of no rmal birth weight ( NBW ) c hildren between 1 and
40 months of age who were delive red in the Jimma Regional
Hospital were assessed in terms of their nutritional status and
morbidity history. In this record linkage of hospital and
community based study, exposure variables of birth weight and
birth length were obtained from the hospital data base. Prenatal
expopures, categor i zed as socio- demographic and obstetric risk
factors were obtained by interviewer administered questionnaire
to mothers, along with the current health and nutritional status
of the children .
The study revealed significant higher risks in LBW children
for current morbidity of 2.02 ( 1.1, 3.7) and frequent illness of
6.0 (2.3, 15 .9). Comparison of nutritional status showed 65% of
the LBW and 46% 0+ NBW children to be malnour ished with a
re lative risk of 2.2 (1.24 - 1.36).
It is concluded that LBW are at increased risk for morbidity
and malnutr l tion in early childhood.
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Health Consequences of low birth Weight in Ethiopia