Maternal risk factors for low birthweight and macrosomia: a cross-sectional study in Northern Region, Ghana

Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition

Research

John Hammond¹  Paul Armah Aryee²  Bashiru Musah³  Hirotsugu Aiga⁴  Sato Miho⁴  Silas Adjei-Gyamfi⁵  Abigail Asirifi⁶ 

[1] Central Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, P.O. Box 63, Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana;Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, P.O. Box TL 1883, Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana;Savelugu Municipal Hospital, Ghana Health Service, P.O. Box 45, Savelugu, Northern Region, Ghana;School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, 852-8523, Nagasaki City, Japan;School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, 852-8523, Nagasaki City, Japan;Savelugu Municipal Hospital, Ghana Health Service, P.O. Box 45, Savelugu, Northern Region, Ghana;Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Christian Health Association of Ghana, P.O. Box 24, Wiamoase, Ashanti Region, Ghana;

关键词: Abnormal birthweight;    Ghana;    Low birthweight;    Macrosomia;    Northern Region;    Risk factors;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s41043-023-00431-0

 received in 2022-12-09, accepted in 2023-08-14,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAbnormal birthweights are critical public health challenges accountable for most non-communicable diseases and perinatal mortalities. Regardless of the myriad of mixed evidence on maternal factors responsible for abnormal birthweight globally, most of these findings are attained from urban and rural settings. This study serves as one of the key pieces of evidence in view of the increasing prevalence of abnormal birthweight particularly in some parts of semi-rural Ghana. The study, therefore, aims to estimate the prevalence of abnormal birthweight and identify some possible maternal risk factors for abnormal birthweight in Northern Ghana.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Savelugu municipality from February–March 2022. A total of 356 mothers aged 16–46 years, having a neonate and attending postnatal care service, were recruited as study participants. Data were collected from maternal and child health record books and through structured interviews. To identify the maternal risk factors for abnormal birthweight, chi-square/Fischer’s exact test and multinomial logistic regression were employed as bivariate and multivariate analyses, respectively, at 95% confidence level.ResultsPrevalence rates of low birthweight and macrosomia were 22.2% and 8.7%, respectively. Maternal anaemia in first trimester (AOR 3.226; 95% CI 1.372–7.784) and third trimester (AOR 23.94; 95% CI 7.442–70.01) of gestation was strong predictors for low birthweight. Mothers belonging to minority ethnic groups (AOR 0.104; 95% CI 0.011–0.995); mothers who had ≥ 8 antenatal care visits (AOR 0.249; 95% CI 0.103–0.602); and mothers having neonates whose birth length > 47.5 cm (AOR 0.271; 95% CI 0.113–0.651) had reduced odds for low birthweight. Alternatively, mothers with gestational weeks ≥ 42 (AOR 23.21; 95% CI 4.603–56.19) and mothers from the richest households (highest socioeconomic homes) (AOR 14.25; 95% CI 1.638–23.91) were more likely to birth to macrosomic infants.ConclusionThe prevalence rates of low birthweight and macrosomia were relatively high. Anaemia in the first and third trimesters was strong determinants of low birthweight. Being minority ethnic group, frequency of antenatal visits, and childbirth length reduced the risk of low-weight births. Advanced gestational age and socioeconomic status of mothers were also predictors of macrosomia. Hence, nutrition counselling, community health education, and promotion of lifestyle improvement coupled with strengthening of health service delivery are recommended interventions.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

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