Abstract:
Despite numerous efforts to improve the quality of maternal and child health
medical services, over twenty million babies are born with low birth weights each year globally.
Low birth weight is one of the poor outcomes of health care and continues to be the leading cause
of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia. However, factors related to low birth weight like physically
demanding work during pregnancy, food insecurity have not been explored in Ethiopia. Thus, the
purpose of this study was to assess factors that were not well studied in previous studies.
Objective: To assess the magnitude of low birth weight and associated factors among neonates
born in public Hospitals of the North Shewa, Oromia Regional State, Central Ethiopia, from June
15-July 30.
Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study design was employed among 441 mothers and
newborns pairs selected by systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a pretested
and structured interviewer-administered questionnaire with chart reviewing. The data were coded,
cleaned, and entered into Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences version 26 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were
conducted to identify the association between explanatory variables and low birth weight. The
adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were used to report the finding. A p-value less
than 0.05 was used to declare the statistical significance.
Result: The magnitude of low-birth-weight was 17.7% (95% CI:14.3, 21.5). Pregnancy-related
complication (AOR=2.12; 95% CI: 1.10,4.10), grand-multiparity (AOR=2.63; 95% CI:1.15,6.00),
physical demanding work during pregnancy (AOR=2.20; 95% CI: 1.11,4.34), midd-upper arm
circumference less than 23 centimeters (AOR=2.58; 95% CI: 1.29,5.18), partner violence during
pregnancy (AOR=3.82; 95% CI 1.83,7.98), and being member of household with food insecure
(AOR=2.22; 95% CI: 1.08,4.55) were factors significantly associated with low birth weight.
Conclusion: This study showed that the magnitude of low birth weight was relatively high.
Pregnancy complications, grand multiparity, physically demanding work during pregnancy,
partner violence, mid-upper arm circumference less than 23 centimetres, and food insecurity were
factors associated with low birth weight. Strengthening the capacity of health care providers
working especially in antenatal care on how to screening pregnant women for intimate partner
violence, hard physical work, undernutrition and providing appropriate treatment might be helpful
