Maternal Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight Babies Delivered in Selected Primary Health Care Centres in Abuja Municipal Area Council, FCT, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Globally, low birth weight remains a public health challenge and is a major risk factor for infant mortality. Therefore, this study investigated the factors associated with low birth weight babies delivered in health facilities within Abuja, Nigeria. Methodology: Secondary data from January 2017 to December 2020 was extracted from 330 delivery records in ten (10) Primary Health Care centres to assess the determinants of low birth weight babies born in Abuja. Findings: The results showed that the mean age of mothers was 27.8 ± 5.1. Majority of the mothers (93.6%) were between 16 and 35 years of age, 93.6% were married, 67% were Christians, 23.3% had no formal education, 31.5% were housewives and 75.8% lived in rural communities. The mean birth weight of babies was 3.05 ± 0.55 kg and 20.3% of the babies had low birth weight compared to 79.7% with normal weights at birth. Maternal age, p=0.02; marital status, p=0.02; religion, p=001; occupation, p=0.001; and weight, p=0.000 were found to be significantly associated with having LBW babies. Maternal obstetric characteristics such as birth spacing, p=0.00; haematocrit level, p=0.001; pregnancy termination, p=0.001; and medical conditions, p=0.00 were also significantly associated with birth weight. Conclusion: The study reported a high prevalence of low birth weight; it also revealed the protective effects of being married on LBW. However, being a housewife significantly increased the risk for having a low birth weight baby.