PREDICTORS OF BIRTH WEIGHT AMONG MOTHERS DELIVERING IN A HEALTH FACILITY IN THE KASENA-NANKANA MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

Birth weight is important to infant survival and the later health of a child. To promote optimum birth weight, in an environment that is vulnerable to varying socio-economic and demographic factors, it is important to understand the relationship between birth weight and these factors. This study determined the seasonal effects on birth weight and examined the ability of maternal and seasonal variables to predict birth weights. The study was conducted in the Kassena-Nankana municipality in the Upper Eastern part of Ghana. Information including date of birth of infants, birth weight of infants, maternal parity, the socio-economic status of maternal household, educational and marital status, ethnicity and religious affiliation of mother were systematically and retrospectively extracted from 8,263 Antenatal Clinic (ANC) records from January, 2009 to December, 2011. There were 4,012 male infants and 3,980 female infants. Correlations among birth weights and selected predictor variables we explored using correlation analysis while predictors of birth weights were modeled and assessed through regression analysis. The study showed significant difference in the mean birth weight of male and female infants with a (P-value =0.000) as well as a significant seasonal pattern in birth weights. While Maternal age had a significant and positive (r = 0.1470, p<0.05) relationship with birth-weight, the best predictors of birth-weight were maternal parity, (P-value =0.000), socio-economic status of mother and season of birth (P-value =0.042). Thus, the season of birth which also tells the length of exposure to the hungry season, is important in determining pregnancy outcomes.