FACTORS INFLUENCING LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (LBW) AMONG MOTHER-NEONATE PAIRS AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH OUTCOMES AT COAST GENERAL HOSPITAL MOMBASA COUNTY KENYA
Keywords:
Low Birth Weight, Birth Weight, Preterm, Health OutcomesAbstract
Purpose: Low birth weight (LBW) is weight at birth of less than 2500gms regardless of the gestational age. Low birth weight is the leading cause of infants and child mortality. Most neonates / infants spend most of their weeks/ months in hospitals. Globally 20 million LBW babies are born every year throughout the world. Reports indicate that an estimated 14 % of neonates are born with LBW while the burden is estimated to be 16% in Kenya. The Objective of this study was to determine factors influencing low birth weight (LBW) and associated health outcomes associated among Mother-Neonate pairs at Coast General Hospital Mombasa County.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was used to collect data on socio-demographic/socioeconomic characteristics, birth weight, and mothers' knowledge as a predictor of health outcomes among neonates. A total of 525 mothers who had delivered at Coast general hospital Mombasa County during the study period of 8months from August 2015 to March 2016 were recruited. Systematic simple random sampling was used to select study participants and a semi-structured questionnaire used to collect data. Data analysis was done by STATA 13·1 (College Station, TX, USA).
Results: The prevalence of low birth weight was 29%, the prevalence was much higher than the estimated prevalence in developing countries of 16% and global prevalence; 15.5% (WHO 2012). There was significant association between low birth weight (LBW) and the following factors; caesarean section birth (adjusted relative risk (ARR) 2.33 (95% CI 1.22 - 4.44), twin birth (ARR 2.85 (95% CI 1.11 - 7.33) and previous low birth weight (ARR 2.42 (95% CI 1.04 - 5.59). Having college education level (ARR 0.41 (95% CI 0.18 - 0.92) and normal hemoglobin concentration (ARR 0.67 (95% CI 0.58 - 0.78) had protective effect on the risk of LBW. Attending ANC during pregnancy for less than 4 times as recommended by WHO was associated with ~3 fold increase in risk of LBW (CRR 2.60 (95% CI 1.69 - 4.02). The prevalence of LBW of 29% is higher than the national burden.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: There is need for mothers to maintain a healthy weight gain and good nutrition, start antenatal care early, make significant life style changes and pre-exciting medical condition under control to reduce the prevalence.
Downloads
References
Barker DJ (1987), Nutrition in the womb, adult consequences of fetal growth restriction British Medical Journal 1991; 3003:1019-22
Bullock I, Davis M, Lockey A, Jones KM, (2008) Pocket Guide to Teaching for Medical Instructors 2nd edition Great Britain TJ International ltd Padstow, Cornwall ISBN978-1-4051-7569-2 pages 1-9
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2012: Health Effects Low Birth Weight and the environment.
Chandra SM , Vijaya AN, Mallapur MD, (2012) Factors affecting birth weight of a new born in rural Karnataka India PLoS ONE PubMed D01; 1010040040
Chukwudi NK, Ejike O, Adimora GN, Ibe BC, (2005), Influence of Biosocial Factors on the Incidence of Low Birth Weight Babies Nigerian journal of paediatrics 2005: 29 (4): 99-102
Cochran WG, (1977), Sampling Techniques 3rd edition New York John Wile & sons ISBN978-0-471-16240-7
Coutinho PR, (2011), Perinatal outcomes associated with low birth weight in a historical cohort: The internet journal of gynecology and obstetrics: Reproductive health journal volume14!1
Ezugwu EC, Onah HE, Odetunde IO, Azubuike JC, (2009), Singleton Low Birth Weight Babies in a Tertiary Hospital in Enugu, South East Nigeria: The internet journal of gynecology and obstetrics volume 14!1
Government of Kenya (2008), Central bureau of statistics http//www.cbs.go.ke
James SR, Ashwill JW, Droske SC, (2002), Nursing Care of Children principles and practice second edition Saunders Elsevier China ISBN-13:978-0-7216-9582-2 pages 97-125
Kothari CR (2004), Research Methodology 2nd edition New -Delhi India: New Age International Publishers ISBN (13) 978-81-224-1522-3 pages 24-389
Latham M C, (1981) Human Nutrition in Tropical Africa Rome Italy Food and Agriculture organization of United Nations ISBN 92-5-100412-9 pages 5-278
Marshall J and Raynor M, (2014), Margaret Myles text book for midwives with modern concepts of obstetric and neonatal care 16th edition Hong Kong- China Longman Group (EF) Ltd ISBN9780-0-7020-51456 pages 517-602
Megabiaw BZ, Zelalem M, Mohammed N, (2012), Incidence and correlates of Low birth weight at a referral hospital in Northwest Ethiopia, The Pan Africa medical journal volume 12!4 ISSN 1937-8688
Meghan S, Sunita M, (2013), Maternal risk factors and consequences of Low Birth Weight in infants in India: ISOR Journal of humanities and social science IOSR-JHSS volume 13!4 pages 39-45
Ministry of Health: Government of Kenya (2006), Kenya National guidelines on Nutrition and HIV/AIDS: Reference manual pages 14-30
Mogire KG (2013), Factors associated with Low Birth Weight deliveries in Pumwani Maternity Hospital Nairobi Kenya
Mugenda OM, & Mugenda, AG, (2003) Research Methods Nairobi Kenya: Acts Press ISBN 9966-41-107-0 pages 1-244
Njuki HW (1983), Low Birth Weight Infant's Incidence, Etiology and Mortality at Machakos Provincial Hospital Kenya Nairobi: Africa Research journal of medicine volume 251! 58
Odendaal ES, Steyn DW, Odendaal HJ, (2003), Obstetric causes for delivery of very Low Birth Weight Babies South African Medical journal:2003 93(1): 61-64 Robert M, Kliegman BS, Richard B, (2011) Nelson textbook of Pediatrics19thedition Philadelphia United States of America Saunders Elsevier ISBN978-1-4377-0755-7
Siza JE (2008), Risk factors associated with Low Birth Weight of Neonates among pregnant Women attending a Referral Hospital in Northern Tanzania, Tanzania Journal of health research volume 10!1: pages 1-8
Swalha W, Gladys M, and (2004) Africa Medical Research Foundation Module: 2 Reproductive Health unit 3: Part 1 Labor and Puerperium Page 85-166
WHO/UNICEF (2012), Maternal, Newborn child and adolescent health care of preterm and /or low_ birth _weight newborn
WHO/UNICEF, (2004) Low Birth Weight- Country, Regional and Global Estimates
WHO/World-Bank (2012), Maternal and perinatal health
Wilson D and Hockenberry M, (2007) Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children 8th edition Canada Mosby Elsevier ISBN 13978-0-323-03963-5 pages 261-498
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
