Abstract:
Low birth weight (LBW) is a major determinant of morbidity, mortality and disability in
infancy and childhood and has a long-term impact on health outcomes in adult life. It
results in substantial costs to the health sector and imposes a significant burden on
society as a whole. This study sought to determine risk factors associated with LBW
deliveries in Pumwani Maternity Hospital (PMH), Nairobi, Kenya. It focused on LBW
and maternal socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and medical factors. This was
a cross-sectional study which comprised of 405 women who delivered at Pumwani
Maternity Hospital between December 2010 and February 2011. Systematic Random
sampling was used to select the study participants. Face to face interviews using semistructured questionnaires were used for data collection. Data analysis was conducted
using SPSS version 16.0. The prevalence of LBW was 32.8%. There was a significant
association between LBW and average number of meals consumed per day during
pregnancies (OR= 2.65, p=0.001), maternal anaemia (OR= 22.53, p=0.001),
hypertension (OR= 7.14, p<0.001), vaginal bleeding (OR 74.50, p<0.001), abdominal
pain (OR= 12.73, p<0.001), lower backache (OR=2.92, p=0.005) and pelvic pressure
(OR=9.20, p<0.001). Occurrence of LBW was definite (100%) among mothers who
suffered pPROM. The prevalence of LBW in PMH (32.8%) was high compared to the
previous prevalence rates that have been reported in Kenya. Since most of LBW
deliveries in PMH were due to medical factors, it implies that if proper and timely
diagnosis as well as treatment is undertaken, the prevalence can be reduced. Therefore, it
is important to upscale antenatal clinic services especially on reproductive health
education. There is also need to educate pregnant women on signs and symptoms that
could predict adverse pregnancy outcomes like vaginal bleeding.