Low Birth Weight Baby and Its Associated Factors among Rural Women in Bangladesh: A Decision Curve Analysis

Abstract

Background: Low birth weight is considered to be one of the main risk factors for infant mortality and morbidity. It is associated with a range of both short- and long-term consequences. Objectives: The study examined the factors contributing to low birth weight of the baby in Bangladesh. This study also attempted with the objective of ensuing a prediction of low birth weight. Methods: The study was a case-control quantitative survey. A three-stage cluster sample design was used to conduct the survey. A total of 674 (337 cases and 337 control) mothers/care givers of under 1 year children were selected from 2 districts of Bangladesh. Binary logistic regression and decision curve analysis were used to investigate the factors which attribute to low birth weight baby born. Results: The findings of the study revealed that mean birth weight was 2.1±0.4 kg among low birth weight children whereas it was 3.0±0.5 kg for normal birth weight children. The mean age of sampled mothers was 25.2±5.4 years. Every 2 in 3 mage got married before 18 years. The prevalence of low birth weight baby among the women with secondary or higher education was lower (47.4%) compared to the women no formal education (65.4%). Analysis revealed that several socio-demographic factors like parental education level, maternal age at first marriage, working status were significantly associated with low birth weight of the baby (p<0.05). Some biological and medical factors like multiple births, maturity of the birth, prenatal care and taking iron and folic acid during pregnancy were also significantly associated with low birth weight baby born. Finally, decision curve analysis technique predicted a net benefit of 0.3907 for the profitable model with highest number of factors. This result implies that the fitted model can predict 39% low birth weight based on independent factors. Conclusion: Prediction model indicates that parental and biological factors are caused for low birth weight baby born in rural areas. Maternal and child health program should focus behavioural change regarding create awareness of disadvantage of early marriage, intake IFA supplementation, at least 4 ANC visit to reduce low birth weight baby born. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2021; 47(1): 42-49