Abstract:
Background: Low birthweight is a widely used indicator of newborn health. In Ethiopia, low
birthweght had around 14% prevalence. Therefore, this study investigates the associated factors
of low birth weight
Objective: To identify the determinants of low birthweight among live births neonates in
public hospitals in Addis Ababa, 2024.
Methods: Unmatched case control study design was conducted with a sample of 420 mothers
(84 cases and 336 controls) who gave live births in Saint Paul’s, Resdesta Demtew Memorial
Hospital, Gandhi, and Black Lion Hospital, all found in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from March 01,
2024, to March 30, 2024. The cases were alive births who had low birthweight, while the
controls were neonate who had normal weight. Data were collected through face to face
interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and the review of records. And then data
were entered using Epi Data 4.1, version and the data were exported for analysis to SPSS version
26. Descriptive statistics like frequency and percentage were used for categorical variables.
Then, binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the determinants of of low
birthweight. The statistical significance was declared at a p value of <0.05.
Result: Out of 420 participants, 410 (97.6%) participated in our study. These mean 328 (97.6%)
out of 330 controls, and in all cases, 84 (100%) participated. In the multivariable logistic
regression model, neonate gender (being female) (AOR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.87), history of
previous low birthweight (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI:1.22, 6.98), and caffeine intake above 300mg
during pregnancy (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.035, 0.87) were found to be a significant
determinants of low birth weight.
Conclusion and Recommendation; The study demonstrated that being female neonate, history of
previous low birthweight were determinants of low birthweight where as caffeine intake more than 300
mg per day during pregnancy had preventive effect of low birthweight. Thus, interventions aimed at
addressing the identified determinants through comprehensive antenatal care programs could help reduce
the burden of Low birthweight among live birth delivered in public hospitals in Addis Ababa.
