A cross-sectional study was conducted from Nov 25, 2012, to Feb 25, 2013, in public maternity hospitals in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia.
The effect is investigated using correlation, linear regression, independent sample T-test, one-way ANOVA, and multivariate linear regression analysis. A total of 605 women and their newborns took part in this study, and the prevalence of low birth weight is 8.3%. On adjusted multivariate linear regression analysis, maternal anthropometric measurements did not affect birth weight. Since maternal mid-upper arm circumference ≤ 20 cm and body mass index ≤18.5kg/m2 are almost nil in this study, generalization is difficult to general population where undernourished women are common in rural Ethiopia similar study is recommended in those areas.
Antenatal care visits, gestational age, and the female sex of newborns had a statistically significant effect in determining the risk of low birth weight. Women who were living with large family members had a heavier newborn than their counterparts. This might be because pregnant women have better care and social support in the Ethiopian context, so advising pregnant women to live with family members should enhance social support during pregnancy in Ethiopia.
Reference: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jp/2018/1982134/
