Low Birthweight and its Predictors in Primary Health Care Facilities in Osogbo, Osun State

Abstract

Low birth weight is one of the major causes of perinatal mortality and ultimately underfive mortality. To achieve Millennium Development Goal of reducing this mortality, effort must be geared towards reducing perinatal mortality by identifying risk factors to low birth weight and provision of cost effective neonatal services. The objective of this study is to identify the risk factors to low birth weight at primary care level with a view to ensuring prompt referral to higher level of health care. Records of four Primary Health Care facilities were looked into. The prevalence of low birth weight was 6.8%. This was higher among the female babies, teenagemothers, preterm deliveries, nulliparous women, breech deliveries and late booking. Adjusting for other risk factors, preterm delivery and nulliparity remain significant predictive factors. Conclusion: Among the pregnant women presenting to primary health care facilities, the high risk groups for low birth weight are those presenting with preterm labour and nulliparous women. These categories of pregnant women should be referred to facilities providing secondary health care.

Key Words: Low Birth weight, Primary Health Care, Risk factors.