Some factors associated with low birthweight in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The data for this study was extracted from the Health Information reported by the health facilities in the state to the State Ministry of Health. The purpose of the study was to determine the incidence of low birth weight in the State and some factors associated with it. The study showed the incidence to be 11 .4%. Low birth weight was also found to be commoner in females infants than males infants (P<0.05), commoner in teenagers (P<0.05), more frequent in the private health facilities compared with the public facilities (P<0.05) and lowest in births occurring at the primary health care facilities. Low birth weight in this report was associated with non attendance of Antenatal Care (p<0.001). No association was found in this study between low birth weight and parity. We concluded that there are low cost strategies that can be used to prevent occurrence of low birth weight newborns such as encouraging attendance of Antenatal Care and discouraging teenage pregnancy.

Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 49(6) 2006: 154-157