Association Between Maternal Undernutrition During Pregnancy and Newborn Low Birth Weight in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT Maternal undernutrition is a key contributor for poor fetal growth, low birth weight and infant morbidity and mortality. Globally, 15%–20% of all births were low birth weight, accounting more than 20 million births a year. This review aims to estimate the pooled association of maternal unde...

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Main Authors: Worku Necho Asferie, Amare Kassaw, Demewoz Kefale, Solomon Demis Kebede, Molla Azmeraw, Yeshiambaw Eshetie Ayenew, Tigabu Munye Aytenew
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Maternal and Child Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.70040
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author Worku Necho Asferie
Amare Kassaw
Demewoz Kefale
Solomon Demis Kebede
Molla Azmeraw
Yeshiambaw Eshetie Ayenew
Tigabu Munye Aytenew
author_facet Worku Necho Asferie
Amare Kassaw
Demewoz Kefale
Solomon Demis Kebede
Molla Azmeraw
Yeshiambaw Eshetie Ayenew
Tigabu Munye Aytenew
author_sort Worku Necho Asferie
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Maternal undernutrition is a key contributor for poor fetal growth, low birth weight and infant morbidity and mortality. Globally, 15%–20% of all births were low birth weight, accounting more than 20 million births a year. This review aims to estimate the pooled association of maternal undernutrition during pregnancy with newborn low birth weight in Ethiopia. A systematic literature search was done from PubMed, Scopus, Hinari, Google Scholar and online research repositories. All studies reporting the association of undernutrition with low birth weight among pregnant women in Ethiopia were included. Heterogeneity between the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Q‐test and I2 statistics. Publication bias was also assessed using Egger's regression test with 5% significance level. Finally, the random effects analysis model was used to estimate the overall pooled effect size. Among 596 identified studies, 15 articles were met inclusion criteria and included in this meta‐analysis. A total of 6441 mother‐neonate pairs were involved in this analysis. The pooled effect size revealed that there was a significant association between maternal undernutrition during pregnancy and newborn low birth weight in Ethiopia AOR: 2.52 (2.01–3.15, I2 = 78.42%). This review was estimated that maternal undernutrition during pregnancy had a significant association with newborn low birth weight in Ethiopia. Undernutrition pregnant women had an increased chance of giving low birth weight. The finding of this review may help the stakeholders to focus on managing pregnancy malnutrition.
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spelling doaj-art-9f916cd4faf044899b20d8e1f8a07d5e2025-08-20T03:46:54ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092025-07-01213n/an/a10.1111/mcn.70040Association Between Maternal Undernutrition During Pregnancy and Newborn Low Birth Weight in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐AnalysisWorku Necho Asferie0Amare Kassaw1Demewoz Kefale2Solomon Demis Kebede3Molla Azmeraw4Yeshiambaw Eshetie Ayenew5Tigabu Munye Aytenew6Department of Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences Debre Tabor University Debre Tabor EthiopiaDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences Debre Tabor University Debre Tabor EthiopiaDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences Debre Tabor University Debre Tabor EthiopiaDepartment of Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences Debre Tabor University Debre Tabor EthiopiaDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences Woldia University Woldia EthiopiaDepartment of Adult Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences Debre Tabor University Debre Tabor EthiopiaDepartment of Adult Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences Debre Tabor University Debre Tabor EthiopiaABSTRACT Maternal undernutrition is a key contributor for poor fetal growth, low birth weight and infant morbidity and mortality. Globally, 15%–20% of all births were low birth weight, accounting more than 20 million births a year. This review aims to estimate the pooled association of maternal undernutrition during pregnancy with newborn low birth weight in Ethiopia. A systematic literature search was done from PubMed, Scopus, Hinari, Google Scholar and online research repositories. All studies reporting the association of undernutrition with low birth weight among pregnant women in Ethiopia were included. Heterogeneity between the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Q‐test and I2 statistics. Publication bias was also assessed using Egger's regression test with 5% significance level. Finally, the random effects analysis model was used to estimate the overall pooled effect size. Among 596 identified studies, 15 articles were met inclusion criteria and included in this meta‐analysis. A total of 6441 mother‐neonate pairs were involved in this analysis. The pooled effect size revealed that there was a significant association between maternal undernutrition during pregnancy and newborn low birth weight in Ethiopia AOR: 2.52 (2.01–3.15, I2 = 78.42%). This review was estimated that maternal undernutrition during pregnancy had a significant association with newborn low birth weight in Ethiopia. Undernutrition pregnant women had an increased chance of giving low birth weight. The finding of this review may help the stakeholders to focus on managing pregnancy malnutrition.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.70040associationEthiopiaLBWpregnancyundernutrition
spellingShingle Worku Necho Asferie
Amare Kassaw
Demewoz Kefale
Solomon Demis Kebede
Molla Azmeraw
Yeshiambaw Eshetie Ayenew
Tigabu Munye Aytenew
Association Between Maternal Undernutrition During Pregnancy and Newborn Low Birth Weight in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Maternal and Child Nutrition
association
Ethiopia
LBW
pregnancy
undernutrition
title Association Between Maternal Undernutrition During Pregnancy and Newborn Low Birth Weight in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
title_full Association Between Maternal Undernutrition During Pregnancy and Newborn Low Birth Weight in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
title_fullStr Association Between Maternal Undernutrition During Pregnancy and Newborn Low Birth Weight in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Association Between Maternal Undernutrition During Pregnancy and Newborn Low Birth Weight in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
title_short Association Between Maternal Undernutrition During Pregnancy and Newborn Low Birth Weight in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
title_sort association between maternal undernutrition during pregnancy and newborn low birth weight in ethiopia a systematic review and meta analysis
topic association
Ethiopia
LBW
pregnancy
undernutrition
url https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.70040
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