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Background. Low Birth Weight (LBW) is a serious public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, 20 million, an estimated 15% to 20% of babies were born with LBW, and, of these, 13% were in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the World Health Assembly targeted to reduce LBW by 30% by the end of 2025, little has been done on and known about LBW. To meet the goal successfully and efficiently, more research studies on the problem are vital. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the associated factors of LBW in Dire Dawa city, eastern Ethiopia. Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and the associated factors of low birth weight in Dire Dawa City, eastern Ethiopia, 2017. Method. A cross-sectional study designed was conducted, and using a systematic sampling technique, 431 mothers who gave birth in the public hospitals in Dire Dawa city from July 01 to August 30, 2018, were selected. Stillbirth and infants with birth defects were excluded from the study. Well-trained data collectors collected the data using a structured questionnaire which was pretested. The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. The Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied in multivariate logistic regression models, and p value less than 0.05 was considered as statistical significant. Result. The prevalence of low birth weight was 21%. Not received nutritional counseling during antenatal care (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 4.06), preterm birth (AOR = 18.48, 95% CI: 6.51, 52.42), maternal smoking (AOR = 3.97, 95% CI: 1.59, 9.88), and height of the mother less than 150 cm (AOR = 3.54, 95% CI: 1.07, 11.76) were significantly associated with Low birth weight. Conclusion. There was a high prevalence of low birth weight in the study area. Effective dietary counseling and additional diet, implementing proven strategies to prevent preterm birth and avoid smoking during pregnancy might decrease the low birth weight and then enhance child survival.
An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in Dire Dawa City Administration. It is located 515 kilometers away from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. According to the 2007 Ethiopian census, an estimated 3,96,423 people were living in the administration. It has achieved 100% primary health care access. In terms of the distribution of health facilities, there are 2 governmental and 4 private hospitals, 8 health centers, 5 higher clinics, and 12 medium clinics in the city. Mothers who gave birth in Dilchora Referral Hospital and Sabina Primary Hospital from July to August 2018 were included. According to the Dire Dawa City Administration’s health office report, approximately about 2000 live births happened every two months in the administration and 58.7% of delivery took place in the health facilities (26). The two hospitals were included because more than two-thirds (1260) of the delivery takes place in these facilities. Stillbirth and infants with birth defects were not included in this study. The sample size was determined using a single population proportion formula (n = (Zα/2)2pq/d2) by considering the proportion of LBW in eastern Ethiopia 21.9% [28] and using 95% CI, 4% marginal error, and 5% of nonresponse rate. The final sample size was 431. Moreover, the double population proportion formula was used to determine the sample size for the factors associated with LBW. Also, this was calculated for some of the associated factors obtained from different literatures using Epi Info statistical software version 7 with the following assumptions: confidence level = 95%, power = 80%, the ratio of unexposed to exposed almost equivalent to 1 not received dietary counseling 34% (19). This yields 144 participants. Finally, we selected the largest sample size from the first objective, which was 431 samples. According to the hospital’s delivery report, about 1,260 mothers give birth per two months. Hence, the study subjects were selected using a systematic sampling technique. The sampling interval (K) was three. The initial mother was employed using the lottery method. When the selected study subject did not fulfill the inclusion criteria, the subsequent mother was included. The data were collected through a face-to-face interview and using a questionnaire which was an adapted and modified form different works of the literature and prepared originally in English, translated into local languages (Amharic, Afan Oromo, and Somali) and then translated back into English for checking the consistency by different language expertise. Trained midwives and nurses working in the labour ward conducted the interview and anthropometric measurements. The weight of the newborns was measured within the first hour of birth using a balanced Seca scale. The measurement scale was always checked and calibrated before weighing each newborn. Maternal height was measured against a wall using a height scale to the nearest centimeter, and maternal weight was measured by using a beam balance to the nearest kilogram. To ensure the quality of the data, a two-day intensive training was given for all the supervisors and the data collectors. The data collection process was undertaken with frequent monitoring and supervision. Finally, double data entry was done to check the consistency of the data and minimize the entry errors. Birth weight: the first weight of the newborns measured within the first hour after birth. Low birth weight was for those newborns who weighed less than 2500 g, while those newborns with a birth weight of 2500 g and above were considered of normal birth weight. The data were coded, entered into EPI data Version 3.1, and exported to SPSS Version 22.0 software for analysis. Then, they were summarized and presented using descriptive statistics. The outcome variables were coded as “1” for LBW whereas “0” for others. The association between the outcome variables (i.e., LBW) and the independent variables was analyzed using a binary logistic regression model. The covariates which had a p value <0.2 were retained and entered into the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit tests were used to assess whether the necessary assumptions were fulfilled. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Before the data collection, ethical permission was obtained from the ethical review committee of the College of Medicine and Health Science in Dire Dawa University, and informed written consent was obtained from the participants before conducting the interview and the measurement.
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