Determinants of Neonatal Low Birth Weight in Hopley, Harare, Zimbabwe

Tecklah Usai – Department of Technology and Design Education.
Ruth Nyoka – Department of Food Science and Nutrition.
Gospel Chingwaru – Department of Food Science and Nutrition.
Norma Ndhovu – Department of Food Science and Nutrition.
William Pote – Faculty of Medicine, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
Beaula Mutonhodza – Department of Nutrition, dietetics and Food Science, University of Zimbabwe
Email: usait@staff.msu.ac.zw

Abstract: Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the leading causes of infant mortality, a pivotal indicator of maternal and child health, and a serious public health issue that can cause complications even in adulthood. The study focused on determining the factors that are associated with low birth weight in Hopley farm, Harare. The study participants consisted of 90 cases and 90 controls. Delivery registers were reviewed to obtain participants’ physio-demographic, medical, and obstetric data. Phone calls were used to obtain socioeconomic and nutritional data from participants and a structured questionnaire was used to document information. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios and p -values in order to determine the association at 95% confidence interval. Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) was calculated to determine food consumption related indicators. Controls had a higher dietary diversity score than cases. The prevalence of LBW in Hopley was 13%. The study identified getting pregnant at age below 20 years, gravida 1 status, parity, lack of nutritional / counselling education, history of delivering low birth weight infants, affiliation to an African apostolic church, low income less than USD20, vending and eating mound to be significant predictors of LBW. LBW was found to be related to socioeconomic, medical, nutritive, and demographic factors. The study recommends more exploration on the impact of the level of nutritional education on LBW problem in Zimbabwe and the possibility of offering incentives to encourage childbearing women to acquire nutritional education.