Influence of maternal, socio-demographic and health service related factors on low birth weight of new-borns in Teaching Hospital Batticaloa

Abstract

Background: Birth weight of new born is the major determinant of survival, physical growth and mental development of an infant. About 12 percent of all births in Sri Lanka are born with low birth weight (LBW).Objective: Our main aim of this research was to assess the influence of Maternal, Sociodemographic and Health service-related factors on LBW of new-borns in THB. This research further focused on the prevalence of LBW as well as to assess the influence of Maternal factors (maternal age at delivery, height, parity, maternal illness; PIH and anemia, smoking & betel chewing during pregnancy), Socio-demographic factors (maternal occupation & educational level, monthly family income, marital status and family type) and Health service-related factors (ANC visit and iron, folic acid & vitamin supplementation during pregnancy) on birth weight of newborns. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out during March 2019 –May 2019 with sample size of 178. Ethical clearance was obtained. Systematic sampling method was applied and interviewer administrated questionnaire, recording form were used. Pretest was done. All mothers of neonates in obstetric wards of THB during our data collection period were included, mothers of preterm babies and still birth babies were excluded. Data was analyzed in SPSS19. Chi-square test was applied. Results: The birth weights of newborns were ranged from 1.92 kg to 4.2kg. The prevalence of LBW was 14.3%. Among the assessed factors, four of them were significantly associated with birth weight of newborn. Majority of mothers were between 20 -35 years old (88.7%) and nearly half of the teenage mothers were delivered LBW babies (46.2%). Nearly two-third of the mothers with PIH and half of the mothers with anemia had given LBW babies. High prevalence of LBW was seen in mothers with family income less than 10000/= per month. Majority of the participants were followed their ANC clinics from their first trimester (91.7%). Almost all the participants had taken iron tablets during pregnancy (99.4%). Nearly half of the mothers (46.5%) did not take pre pregnancy folic acid. All were taken vitamin supplements (vitamin C, folic acid) and calcium during pregnancy. Conclusion: Maternal age at delivery (P=0.018), anemia (P=0.002), PIH (P=0.011) and monthly family income (P=0.006) were significantly influence the birth weight of newborn. Educational programs on reduction of teenage pregnancy, specialized antenatal care for anemia and PIH are highly recommended.