Low birth weight and its associated factors among deliveries in Malawi city, Minia, Egypt

Hassan, Ebtesam E.; Ismail, Maryam H.; Mosallem, Fadia A.; Refeai, Sara A.

doi:10.21608/mjmr.2022.221417

Low birth weight and its associated factors among deliveries in Malawi city, Minia, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt.

² Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt

10.21608/mjmr.2022.221417

Abstract

Background: low birth weight (LBW) is one of the major determinants of perinatal survival, infant
morbidity, and mortality as well as the risk of developmental disabilities and illnesses in future. WHO
estimates that 25 million LBW babies are born annually worldwide and 95% occur in developing
countries. In Egypt, as in many other developing countries, most infant and childhood mortality has
been also due to diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, other infectious diseases such as meningitis,
neonatal infections and vaccine preventable diseases. These conditions are more critical among LBW
children since they are more at risk of premature birth, fetal defects, neonatal complications, deficient
immune system and greater exposure to infections. Global nutrition targets set at the World Health
Assembly in 2012 include an ambitious 30% reduction in LBW prevalence between 2012 and 2025.
Aim of the study: To estimate percentage and risk factors of LBW among population in Mallawy
city, Minia, Egypt. Research methodology: This study is prospective cohort study among pregnant
females in 3rd trimester, included 346 participants, recruited from two health centers in Mallawy city.
Face to face interview questionnaire was used in data collection. Results: LBW cases consisted
32.4% of all participants. By logistic regression analysis twin pregnancy, hypertension and preterm
labor (PTB) were associated with the highest probability to LBW, with AOR= 3.88, 3.43 and 3.30
respectively. Conclusion: working status, passive smoking, short interpregnancy intervals, twin
pregnancy, PTB, hypertension, and vaginal bleeding during pregnancy found to be risk factors for
LBW. Recommendations: Increase the community awareness of risk factors of the problem. More
research on larger populations is necessary for risk assessment and long term consequences of LBW.

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