Prevalence and Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight Among Neonates in Soroti Regional Referral Hospital

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold> Low birth weight is an important marker of maternal health and neonatal health. It is an indicator of morbidity and mortality as well as adult-onset of chronic conditions. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and factors associated with low birth weight among neonates at birth in Soroti regional referral hospital. <bold>Methods:</bold> This was a cross sectional study employing quantitative methods of data collection. It was conducted at Soroti regional referral hospital between November and December 2021. The study recruited 322 mothers with live neonates. To analyze the data, low birth weight was summarized as a proportion while modified poisson model was used to determine the factors significantly associated with birth weight. <bold>Results:</bold> Overall, the prevalence of low birth weight was (21.5%, 95% CI: 16.4- 25.3). Factors that were found to be significantly associated with low birth weight were mother’s occupation (PR=0.83, 95%CI ;0.71-0.97, P=0.019), Antenatal care attendance (PR=1.21 ,95%CI; 1.09-1.36,P=0.001), Gestation age by Ballard score (PR=1.92, 95%CI: 0.82-5.52, P=0.133,) and parity (PR=0.95,95%CI;0.85-1.07,P=0.407) respectively were significantly associated with low birth weight <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Prevalence of low birth weight was considerably high in Soroti Regional referral hospital. One in every 5 neonates born in Soroti regional referral had low birth weight. Mother’s occupation, attending antenatal care, gestation age, and parity were the factors significantly associated with low birth weight.