Determinants of Low Infant Birth Weight in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Aim: This study was conducted to assess the determinants of low infant birth weight in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana.

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Postnatal and child welfare clinics of the Tamale Central, West and Seventh Day Adventist Hospitals from January to June 2016.

Methodology: Structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics of mothers and infants, maternal lifestyle activities, clinical variables and anthropometric measurements of 201 mothers who delivered singleton babies at the three-health facilities. These variables were assessed to determine their effect on birth weight outcome of infants. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess determinants of infant birth weight.

Results: The prevalence of low birth weight (LBW), normal birth weight and high birth weight (HBW) among infants delivered by respondents was 11.9%, 77.6% and 10.5% respectively. Haemoglobin concentration (9.9 ± 1.3 g/dL: P<.001), underweight mothers (aOR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.0-5.0), mothers with no education (aOR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.6-9.7) and mothers with more than 4 children (aOR = 6.5, 95 % CI = 1.5-28.0) are significant determinants associated with low birth weight.

Conclusion: Early pregnancy haemoglobin concentration (<10 g/dL), not educated, multiparity (>4) and being underweight are significantly associated with low birth weight outcomes. Mothers with more than 4 children, with early pregnancy heamoglobin and underweight should be given special clinical attention to avert low birth weight outcomes. Furthermore, sociodemographic data should be evaluated so attention can be given to uneducated pregnant women in a language they can understand.