Health Consequences Of Low Birth Weight In Ethiopia

An historical cohort of 116 low birth weight (LBW) and anrnequal number of no rmal birth weight ( NBW ) c hildren between 1 andrn40 months of age who were delive red in the Jimma RegionalrnHospital were assessed in terms of their nutritional status andrnmorbidity history. In this record linkage of hospital andrncommunity based study, exposure variables of birth weight andrnbirth length were obtained from the hospital data base. Prenatalrnexpopures, categor i zed as socio- demographic and obstetric riskrnfactors were obtained by interviewer administered questionnairernto mothers, along with the current health and nutritional statusrnof the children .rnThe study revealed significant higher risks in LBW childrenrnfor current morbidity of 2.02 ( 1.1, 3.7) and frequent illness ofrn6.0 (2.3, 15 .9). Comparison of nutritional status showed 65% ofrnthe LBW and 46% 0+ NBW children to be malnour ished with arnre lative risk of 2.2 (1.24 - 1.36).rnIt is concluded that LBW are at increased risk for morbidityrnand malnutr l tion in early childhood.

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