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Subject Area

Dermatology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Introduction Globally, neonates with lower birth weight (LBW) are at higher risk of death as compared with those with normal birth weight, yet in Ghana, little is known about the nationwide predictors of LBW in terms of maternal demographic and antenatal factors. Aim To identify maternal sociodemographic and antenatal factors as a predictors of LBW in Ghana. Patients and methods A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted for this study using Ghana Maternal Health Survey data for 2017. The data analysis was done using SPSS. χ2 and binary logistics regression model was used for associations at significance of P value less than 0.05. Results The average age of the women was 29.5 ± 9.8 years. The study recorded prevalence of LBW to be 7.4%. With significance at 95%, the following factors predicted absence of LBW: maternal age, 20–24 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.8], 25–29 years (AOR = 2.4), and more than or equal to 30 years (AOR = 2.9), with 15–19 years as the reference category; unmarried mothers (AOR = 0.8); ethnicity, Ewe/Akan (AOR = 1.9) and Guan/Akan (AOR = 2.3); regional zone of the mother, Savanna/Coastal (AOR = 0.7); and antenatal medication, tetanus injection and iron table intake (AOR = 0.7 and AOR = 0.7, respectively). Conclusion The maternal factors identified as a predictor of LBW were maternal age, marital status, ethnicity, and regional belt or zone. Antenatal tetanus injection and iron table intake predicted LBW.

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