Low Birth Weight: Prevalence, Maternal Obstetric Contributors, and Determinants – A 5-Year Review of Deliveries in a Tertiary Care Health Facility in Nigeria
Background: Birth weight is a crucial indicator of pregnancy health and the likelihood of a newborn’s survival. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW), identify the major maternal conditions contributing to LBW, and analyze the determinants of LBW over the...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-04-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Medicine and Health Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmh.ijmh_81_24 |
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| Summary: | Background: Birth weight is a crucial indicator of pregnancy health and the likelihood of a newborn’s survival. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW), identify the major maternal conditions contributing to LBW, and analyze the determinants of LBW over the last 5 years at Delta State University Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: This study involved a review of secondary data obtained from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, following approval from the relevant authorities. Maternal and neonatal data were collected for the period from April 2019 to March 2024. The prevalence of LBW, maternal obstetric contributors, associated comorbidities, and determinants were assessed. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: During the study period, there were 821 deliveries; however, 15 (1.8%) had incomplete data, and 53 (6.5%) were stillbirths, resulting in their exclusion from the study. Of the 753 live deliveries, 193 (25.6%) were unsupervised, 198 (26.4%) were preterm, and 383 (50.9%) were males. The prevalence of LBW was 29.0% (218/753), with 66 (30.3%) cases having intrauterine growth restriction and 107 (49.1%) requiring admission. The leading maternal contributor to LBW was hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP), accounting for 73 (33.5%) of the LBW cases. Following logistic regression analysis, the observed predictors of LBW were unsupervised pregnancy and multiple gestation. (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.70–2.88: P < 0.001 and AOR = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.03–0.20: P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of LBW was notably high, with HDP identified as a major contributor. Unsupervised pregnancy and multiple gestation are the determinants of LBW in the study population. |
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| ISSN: | 2635-3695 2667-2863 |