Prevalence of Low Birth Weight and Associated Factor among neonate Born at Jimma Medical Center (JMC), Jimma, South Western Ethiopia

Background: Low Birth Weight continues to remain key public health concern related to poverty, social factors such as lower status of women, lack of nutrition and Antenatal care.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Low Birth Weight and associated factor, among the neonates born in Jimma medical center from May 1, 2015 GC- April 30, 2017 G.C.

Methods: A facility based cross sectional descriptive study was carried out on birth weight distribution. Data was collected from delivery registration book of obstetrics department by using structured data collection format and analysis was done manually. Finally the finding was presented by using tables, frequency, percentage, x2-test was used to determine association between variables.

Results: A total of 3546 live birth new-born were observed among which more than half 54% were male and 46% were female. The mean birth weight was 3200 g and the prevalence of low birth weight was 7.8%. with regard to factor associated with birth weight Antenatal care follow up, parity, gestational age, sex of new born and maternal age during the last pregnancy had significant association with low birth weight with the p value <0.05.

Conclusion: The prevalence of low birth weight in the study area was comparatively lower than that of countrywide figure. Maternal related factors like, maternal age, parity, and Antenatal care follow up as well as new-born related factors like sex of the neonate and gestational age were significantly associated with low birth weight. Therefore Further Large scale study with a representative sample size is recommended to be conducted in the future..

Author(s):

Seid SS*, Tolosa T and Adugna D

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