Early-pregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain are important Maternal Markers of Low Birth Weight in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: A baby’s birth weight is an indicator of a new-born’s health, and it is highly associated with maternal weight before pregnancy and gestational weight gain. Although there are plenty of studies on low birth weight in Ethiopia, none has addressed the effect of gestational weight gain on low birth weight. The aim of this study was to assess the factors associated with low birth weight in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia.
Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study on 411 women who started antenatal care follow-up before 16 weeks of gestation and presented to health facility to give birth. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire and maternal weight and new-born’s birth weight were measured. Maternal weight and height at early pregnancy, and the number of antenatal care visits were abstracted from the antenatal care registration. Logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with low birth weight. The level of significance was declared at a p value of <0.05.
Results: The proportion of low birth weight was 12.7% (95% CI: 9.7-16.1). Ninety-six percent of the low birth weight babies were born to women who gained insufficient gestational weight and 46.2% of the underweight women (at early pregnancy) had new-born babies with low birth weight. Low birth weight was more likely to occur among those who earned a monthly income of <$50 as compared to ≥$50 [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=5.4;95% CI (0.2, 13.7)]; antenatal care visits < 4 times compared to ANC visit ≥4 times [AOR=3.7; 95% CI (1.4, 9.5)]; age < 20 years [AOR=4.4;95% CI (1.5, 12.8)] and mother's age ≥30 years [AOR=3.9;95% CI (1.4, 10.9)] compared to mother's age 20 to 29 years; inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) compared to adequate GWG [AOR=7.6;95% CI (3.4, 12.4)]; underweight compared to normal weight (at early pregnancy) [AOR=4.0; 95% CI (1.4,12.2)], gestational age <37 weeks compared to ≥37 weeks [AOR=8.9;95% CI (4.4, 27.0)]; and primipara compared to multi-paras [AOR=3.4;95% CI (1.4, 9.5)].
Conclusion: The proportion of babies with low birth weight was minimal compared to the national magnitude. Almost all the low birth weight babies were born to women who gained inadequate gestational weight and who were underweight at early pregnancy. The pregnant women should be counselled on appropriate weight management during their prenatal visits.