Prevalence of Low Birth Weight and Associated Risk Factors in Kisumu County Hospitals.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines low birth weight (LBW) as birth weight below 2500g. LBW is associated with poor neonatal outcomes (like respiratory distress syndrome and necrotizing enterocolitis) and long-term complications for survivors like growth delay, neuropsychological disturbance and development of non-communicable diseases. Preventable causes of LBW can be reduced by measures that identify high risk women pre-pregnancy, and increase availability and quality of antenatal care. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to determine the prevalence of LBW among neonates who were born in three high volume health facilities in Kisumu County and to determine the associated risk factors. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in three hospitals in Kisumu County. It included 227 mothers with their live newborns. Pretested questionnaires, MOH mother and Child health booklets and patient files were used to obtain information. Neonatal birth weight, maternal left-mid-upper-arm circumference and height were recorded. Data were entered and cleaned in Microsoft excel and analyzed using STATA vs 13. RESULTS: The prevalence of low birth weight was 17.5%. The mean birthweight was 3.0kg. 57% of newborns were males. The median maternal age was 24 years (IQR 19,31) with 63% being between 20-35 years. Among the new mothers, 74% were married, 60% had post-primary education and only 8% had a formal employment. Maternal demographic, socio-economic and nutritional factors were not associated with low birth weight. Being unmarried(P=0.011), experience of intimate partner violence (P=0.025), less than 2 antenatal visits(P=0.042) and

previous history low birth weight(P=0.001) remained significant in increasing the risk of low birth weight in a multivariable logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of low birth weight was 17.5%. Marital status, intimate partner violence, number of antenatal visits were independently associated with low birth weight.