Abstract:
Background:-Studies in a number of countries have shown that wherever fertility is
high maternal, infant and child mortality rates are high. In addition to this, some
studies show that parity has direct effect on fetal outcomes, while other studies report
that they were not sure about its effect on fetal outcomes.
Objective:-To assess the association between parity and fetal growth indices:-Low
birth weight (LBW), Macrosomia, and Prematurity at Gilgel Gibe Field Research
Center, Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods:-Comparative cross sectional study was conducted to assess the association
between parity and fetal outcomes; low birth weight (LBW), Macrosomia and
Prematurity. Information about parity, LBW, Macrosomia, Prematurity and associated
factors was obtained from secondary data in Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center.
Descriptive analysis and Generalized estimating equations (GEE) method was used to
assess the association between parity and fetal outcomes. In the mean time crude and
adjust OR, 95% CI was calculated to assess the magnitude of association in both
bivariate and multivariable analysis respectively using SPSS16.
Results:-The study analyzed 2,487 births from a total of 2,096 mothers. Of these,
1,079 births (43.4%) were from high parity women and the rest 1,408(56.6%) were
from low parity women. The newborn with the outcome of interest were 141 LBW, 522
Macrosomia and 495 premature. High parity has no association with LBW
AOR=1.05(95%CI=0.63-1.75), Macrosomia AOR=0.98(95%CI=0.77-1.27) and
prematurity AOR=1.01 (95%CI= 0.76-1.34), when compared with low parity. LBW
was significantly associated, with maternal income, address baby born, number of live
birth at a pregnancy, gestational age of the babies and year of delivery. Macrosomia
was found to be significantly associated with sex of the babies and year of delivery.
Similarly preterm birth had significant association with maternal age, educational
status, address baby born and number of live birth.
Conclusion:-Fetal growth indices (LBW, macrosomia and preterm birth), were not
found to be significantly associated with high parity. Further studies with similar or
different study design on other important maternal factors are recommended
