Abstract:
Background: Many studies define low birth weight as a weight of less than 2500 g at
birth. Birth weight is an important indicator and prognostic factor for the health of
newborns. Low birth weight might result from preterm delivery or restricted intrauterine
growth. Out of 139 million live births worldwide, over 20 million are low birth weight
babies, and around 95.6% of those babies are born in developing nations. Ethiopia has
high under five mortality rates in the world. Only 5% of newborns were weighed at birth
in Ethiopia. Designing cost-effective intervention techniques to lower low birth weight
rates requires a deeper knowledge of the causes of low birth weight. This study was
designed to measure the prevalence of low birth weight and to assess the factors that
contribute to low birth weight in the study area.
Methods: An institutional-based cross sectional study was conducted at Madda Walabu
University Goba Referral Hospital from November 30, 2022 to February 30, 2023. The
mothers did a detailed interview, and the newborns completed the required
measurements. Using a pretested structured questionnaire, information on demographic
characteristics, nutritional status, infectious diseases, and obstetrical factors were
gathered from laboring mothers. Epidata version 4.6.0.2 was used for data entry, and
SPSS version 25 was used for analysis. Candidate variables were screened using a
binary logistic regression analysis and those with a P-value of <0.25 were included to a
multiple logistic regression analysis. The goodness-of-fit was evaluated using the
Hosmer-Lemeshow test. A P-value of <0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.
Results: The prevalence of low birth weight was 13.27% (95% CI: 10.13, 16.41). The
odds mothers’ mid-upper arm circumference less than 23cm was 5.22(AOR =95% CI:
2.42, 11.24), the odds of lack of nutritional counseling during ANC follow up was 2.65,
(AOR = 95% CI: (1.13, 6.23), the odds of presence of anemia during pregnancy was
2.86(AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: (1.40, 5.84), and the odds of mothers who did not have
Antenatal-care follow-up during pregnancy 9.46, (AOR = 9.46, 95% CI: 3.69, 24.28)
were significantly associated with low birth weight.
Conclusion and recommendations: Mothers’ mid-upper arm circumference less than
23cm, lack of nutritional counseling, not following antenatal care and being anemic
during current pregnancy were significantly associated with low birth weight. Improving
the socio-economic status of mothers, increasing Ante natal care utilization, and
integrating nutrition counseling into antenatal care can reduce low birth weight.
