| Maternal Factors are Important Predictors of Low Birth Weight: Evidence from Bangladesh Demographic & Health Survey-2011 |
| Authors: |
Karim, Reazul; Mondal, Nazrul Islam; Rana, Masud; Karmaker, Himangshu; Bharati, Premananda; and Hossain, Golam |
| Source: |
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition, 22(2):257-265 |
| Topic(s): |
Birth weight
Maternal health
Nutrition
Reproductive health
|
| Country: |
Asia
Bangladesh
|
| Published: |
NOV 2016 |
| Abstract: |
Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) children are vulnerable to infections and
malnutrition leading to poor physical, mental and social development. The aim of this study
was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with LBW among Bangladeshi
children. Methods: Secondary data were extracted from 8,364 married and currently nonpregnant
Bangladeshi women having at least one child (age =5 years) from the Bangladesh
Demographic and Health Survey 2011 (BDHS, 2011). Results: Overall prevalence of LBW
was 17.6%. Younger mothers (age =20 years) were more likely (OR= 0.812) to deliver LBW
infants than those between 21 and 29 years. Uneducated mothers had a higher chance
(OR=0.552) of having LBW infants than mothers with higher education. Female infants
were more likely (OR= 1.292) to be born LBW than males (p<0.01). Mothers from poor
families, who did not attend ante-natal visits during pregnancy, and did not receive tetanus
injections during pregnancy were more likely to deliver LBW infants. Underweight mothers
had a higher probability than normal (OR= 0.880) and overweight (OR= 0.802) mothers to
deliver LBW infants. Conclusion: The prevalence of LBW children in Bangladesh remains
high. Mothers’ education, socio-economic status and nutritional status are important
predictors of delivering LBW infants. Reducing the prevalence of LBW should continue to
be a health priority of government and non-government organisations.
Key words: Bangladesh, low birth weight, maternal education, nutritional status, socioeconomic
status |
|