Introduction: Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies are susceptible to infections and malnutrition leading to poor physical, mental development and child morbidity. Although the health condition of Bangladesh has enriched substantially over the years, the LBW rate is still pretty high. The principal focus of this study was to examine the maternal factors (e.g. socio- demographic, and pregnancy related) affecting LBW in rural communities of Bangladeshi infants and drew a district levelprevalence map.
Methods: We used multistage sampling technique to select samples covering all the population from nine Upazilas with 233 community clinics of Rajshahi district. A total of 540 mothers and their children were enrolled into the study. Any association between LBW and maternal affecting factors were evaluated using Chi-square test with causes of LBW identified by logistic regression model.
Results: Household income-expenditure profile is statistically significant (p=0.003) with LBW where income-expenditure profile is equal. Anemia problems of the mother during pregnancy were more likely to deliver LBW babies (p=0.007). Underweight mothers had a higher probability than normal weight mothers to deliver LBW newborns (p=0.030). The mothers whose Birth interval are less than 25 months; then the risk of having LBW infants (p=0.015). Gestational age was significantly associated with LBW of babies (p=0.009). Significant relationship was found between household income - expenditure profile, maternal anemia, underweight mother, birth interval, preterm delivery with LBW.
Conclusion: This study finds various factors like, Household income-expenditure profile, Underweight mother, Birth interval, preterm delivery and anemia problems during pregnancy are momentous predictors of delivering LBW infants. Proper nourishment and monitoring on gestational length might minimize LBW.
