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Low Birth Weight and Its Associated Factors among Neonates Born in the Public Health Institutions of Nekemte Town, East Wallaga Zone, West Oromia, Ethiopia

Tariku Gidada

Background: Birth weight is an important indicator to judge the survival chances of the new-born. Many of the new-born die during their first year of life because of low birth weight as they become the victims of protein energy malnutrition and infection. Low birth weight has intergeneration effect in Ethiopia. However, no other study has been conducted on status of birth weight in the study area. Hence, the need to conduct this study was to provide current information about the birth weight and associated factors among neonates born in public health institutions in Nekemte town, East Wollega zone, Oromia, west Ethiopia.

Objective: To assess neonatal birth weight and its associated factors among births at public health institutions providing delivery service in Nekemte town.

Method: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 340 mothers who gave birth in Nekemte town in the public health institutions from September 10/2014 to December 10/2014. Simple random sampling was used to identify study unit. Data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire by a face-to-face interview technique and the neonate was weighted recorded. Logistic regression analyses method was used to check associations and control confounding.

Result: 62(18.2%) neonates born with low birth weight. Hypertension [AOR =1.64;95% ,CI=(1.543, 2.39)], gestational age less than 37 weeks[AOR =12.08, 95% CI=(1.020 , 2.354)], family size [AOR= 5.719, 95%,CI= (1.660,3.703)], birth spacing duration [AOR=4.1828,95% CI=(1.086, 3.389)], HIV/AIDS [(AOR= 4.072,95%CI=1.842, 2.005], source of drinking water[AOR 2.485;95%, CI=1.053, 5.865)], were some of the major risk factors revealed to affect birth weight.

Conclusion: The prevalence of low birth weight was high in the study area. The finding of this study revealed that: birth spacing, HIV/AIDS, source of drinking water, family size, and hypertension during pregnancy were significantly associated with birth weight. Thus, since the low birth weight has intergenerational effect, an organized effort should be made at all levels to improve the birth weight of neonates.Keywords: Pingchan granule; Motor function; Non-motor function; Sleep; Autonomic function; Psychological disorders; Quality of life.