Abstract:
Background: It is estimated that more than 22 million babies born worldwide annually are of low
birth weight (< 2500 gm) of whom 95.6% are in the low resource countries and this trend has not
changed in the last 10 years. Low birth weight babies account for 60–80% of all neonatal deaths.
From observation of the principal investigator, low birth weight neonates are among commonly
admitted newborns to Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, however the prevalence and
associated factors are not studied previously.
Objectives: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of Low Birth Weight neonates
admitted to Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia, from the Year 2018 to
2019. Data will be collected from December 20 to January 20, 2020.
Methods: The study is conducted using a retrospective cross sectional study design from
reviewed medical charts of neonates admitted in Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital
neonatal ward on sample of 246 neonates admitted to the hospital. Samples were selected by
systematic random sampling technique. The data was checked and edited for any incompleteness
or inconsistency. Data entry and cleaning is done using Epi info and SPSS statistical software
x
version 20 is used for the analysis. To determine the association of the variables with low birth
weight bivariate and multivariate logistic regression is done and result significant is considered
at p< 0.25 and p< 0.05 respectively.
Results: The prevalence of low birth weight is 35%. The associated factors to low birth weight is
found to be maternal age less than 20 years AOR= 5.715(3.001- 10.884), living in rural area
AOR= 2.346(1.150-4.787), gestational age preeclampsia AOR=2.801(1.158-6.777) and
premature rupture of membrane AOR= 3.573(1.312-9.732) are associated factors to low birth
weight.
