DETERMINANTS OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AMONG UNDER- 5 CHILDREN IN A RURAL AREA OF WEST BENGAL.
Abstract
Objectives: Birth weight is one of the most important determinants of neonatal and infant survival. A cross-sectional clinic-based retrospective study was conducted in a rural area of West Bengal with the aim of finding out the magnitude of low birth weight among Under-5 children and to elicit its determinants.
Method: The present study was undertaken in the immunization clinics of rural health centers of Singur Block which is under the rural field practice area of All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Kolkata. All Under-5 children who came for immunization during the study period were taken as the study population. Data were collected by interviewing the mother with the help of a predesigned and pretested schedule and from the previous antenatal records.
Results: The proportion of low birth weight (<2500 g) was 23.3%. Firstly a univariate analysis was done. The variables which were found to be significant were entered into the multiple logistic regression model. P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. The significant variables in the multivariate analysis were poor weight gain during pregnancy, anemia, and preterm gestation with Adjusted Odds Ratio (Confidence Interval) 5.22(1.94-14.05), 2.94(1.19-7.26) and 4.18(1.4-12.45) respectively.
Conclusion: Proper Antenatal care, adequate dietary intake, sufficient consumption of IFA tablets, and timely treatment of anemia and hypertension during pregnancy can go a long way to address the problem of low birth weight among rural children.
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References
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