Author(s):
Background: The great majority of low-birth-weight births occur in low- and middle-income countries. Especially in the most vulnerable populations in sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia.
Objective: Study was aimed to assess low birth weight and factors associated with low birth weight among neonates in public hospitals in Adiss Abeba.
Method: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted to assess the prevalence and associated factors of low birth weight among newborn babies in public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The data was collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data was cleared and entered into EPI info version 7and .0 and then exported to spss version 20. bi variate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify associated factors with low birth weight. After bivariate regression analysis, variables with a P value less than 0.2 were included in multivariable logistic regression. An unadjustedd ratio with 95% CI was calculated to see the association of vvavariablesth low birth weight at the sinsignificant value of P<0.05.
Result: The study was conducted among 369 mothers who had a new born baby.And in this study, the prevalence of low birth weight was 15.2% at 95%CI=(11.7-18.7).And residing in rural area AOR=2.50(95%CI=(1.078-5.148),Birth interval <24 month AOR=2.531 95%CI=(1.422-.4.507),Pregnancy complication AOR=13.53095 % CI =(6.080-30.105),ANC follow up (AOR = 5.14(95 % CI=(1.260-21.017)).gestational age AOR 7.446(95%+CI=(3.104-
17.862),sex of the new born AOR=3.24(95%CI=(1.354-7.7561) were significantly associated factors.
Conclusion: The prevalence of low birth weight in this study was 15.2%, and it is lower than the national prevalence, And residential are, Birth interval, pregnancy complications, ANC followup,gestational age and sex of neonates were significantly associated with low birth weight.
