Prevalence, Trends and Predictors of Small Size Babies in Nigeria: Analysis of Data from Two Recent Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2020.09.03.3Keywords:
Prevalence, Trends, Risks factors, Small size baby, Low birth weight, Nigeria.Abstract
Background: Despite low birth weight (LBW) role on child growth, development, and survival in developing countries, it has not been given the desired priority in terms of research, at the national level in Nigeria. Our study aims to estimate the trend in the prevalence of small size babies and to identify its predictors using nationally representative data.
Methods: We used the 2013 and 2018 data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey using the statistical methods of descriptive analysis and logistic regression modelling.
Results: The proportion of babies reported to have small size at birth in Nigeria declined from 14.9% in 2013 to 13.7% in 2018. Various factors from demographic, socio-economic, and health-seeking behaviour were identified as significant predictors. Women who received iron pills and tetanus toxoids during pregnancy had at most 79% and 80% less risk of having small size babies, respectively, than those who received none of these two. Female children had at least 21% more chance of being small in size than male children. Other key predictors were geopolitical region, maternal age at child birth, maternal literacy level, wealth status, religion, source of water supply, number of ANC visits during pregnancy, and desirousness of pregnancy.
Conclusion: In light of the adverse effects of low birth weight on child well-being, we recommend the implementation and prioritization of active, resourceful public health interventions that account for the findings of this study, if Nigeria is to sustain the progress achieved so far in reducing its current high rate.
References
Lawn JE, Cousens S, Zupan J. 4 million neonatal deaths: When? Where? Why? Lancet 2005; 365: 891-990. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)71048-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)71048-5
Uthman OA. Effect of low birth weight on infant mortality: analysis using Weibull Hazard Model. Int J Epidemiol 2008; 6: 8. https://doi.org/10.5580/fca DOI: https://doi.org/10.5580/fca
Daynia EB, Tobias FC, Peter AC. Determinants of survival in very low birth weight neonates in a public sector hospital in Johannesburg. BMC Pediatr 2010; 10: 1030. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-10-30 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-10-30
World Health Organization (WHO). Guidelines on optimal feeding of low birth-weight infants in low- and middle-income countries 2011; 5-31? (accessed April 12, 2020).
Adebowale SA, Morakinyo OM, Ana GR. Housing materials as predictors of under-five mortality in Nigeria: evidence from 2013 demographic and health survey. BMC Pediatr 2017; 17: 30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-016-0742-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-016-0742-3
Wegbom AI, Essi ID, Kiri VA. Survival Analysis of Under-five Mortality and Its Associated Determinants in Nigeria: Evidence from Survey Data. Int J of Stat and Appl 2019; 9(2): 59-66.
Wegbom AI, Kiri VA, Essi, ID. Comparison between Semi-Parametric Cox and Parametric Survival Models in Estimating the Determinants of Under-Five Mortality in Nigeria: Application in Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey. Afr J of Math and Stat Stud 2019; 2(2): 1-12.
Pojda D, Kelly L. Low birthweight-nutrition policy discussion paper no.18. UNACC Sub-Committee on Nutrition 2000. (accessed April 12, 2020).
Islam MM. The Effects of Low Birth Weight on School Performance and Behavioral Outcomes of Elementary School Children in Oman, Oman. Medical J 2015; 30: 241-251. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2015.50 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2015.50
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF-WHO (2019) Low birthweight estimates: Levels and trends 2000–2015. Geneva: World Health Organization; CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. (accessed April 12, 2019).
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country, Regional and Global Health Facts; monitoring the situation of Children and Women, World Health Statistics 2009. (accessed April 12, 2019).
World Health Organization (WHO). Global nutrition targets 2025: low birth-weight policy brief (WHO/NMH/NHD/14.5). Geneva: World Health Organization, 2014. (accessed December 12, 2019).
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country, Regional and Global Health Facts; monitoring the situation of Children and Women, World Health Statistics 2016 (accessed April 12, 2019).
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2016-17, Survey Findings Report. Abuja, Nigeria, 2017. http://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/pdfuploads/MICS-%202016-17%20National.pdf (accessed April 12, 2020).
Kleinbaum D, Mitchel K. Logistic Regression: A Self-Learning Text.3rd ed. Springer Science + Business Media, Inc., 2010; pp. 1-27.
Islam MM, Khan MHR. Incidence of and Risk Factors for Small Size Babies in Bangladesh. Int J Community Fam Med 2016; 1: 123. https://doi.org/10.15344/2456-3498/2016/123 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15344/2456-3498/2016/123
Taddese A, Melaku U. Prevalence and Predictors of "Small Size" Babies in Ethiopia: In-depth Analysis of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, 2011. Ethiopia J of Health Sci 2016; 26(3): 243-250. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v26i3.7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v26i3.7
Khan A, Deeba FN, Jaleel R. Frequency, and risk factors of low birth weight in term pregnancy. Pakistan J of Med Sci 2016; 32(1): 138-142. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.321.8120 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.321.8120
Isiugo-Abnihe UC, Oke OA. Maternal and environmental factors influencing infant birth weight in Ibadan, Nigeria. Afr Popul Stud 2011; 25(2): 250-266. https://doi.org/10.11564/25-2-230 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11564/25-2-230
Maznah D, NazarAzahar OM, Norlaili A. Risk factors for low birth weight in Nigeria: evidence from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Global Health Action 2016;
National Population Commission (NPC) [Nigeria] and ICF. Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 2018. Abuja, Nigeria, and Rockville, Maryland, Maryland, USA: NPC and ICF. 2019. (accessed April 12, 2020)
Hueston WJ, Gilbert, GE, Davis L Sturgill V. Delayed prenatal care and the risk of low birth weight delivery. J of Comm Health 2003; 28: 199-208. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022908307844 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022908307844
White DE, Fraser-Lee NJ, Tough S, Newburn-Cook CV. The content of prenatal care and its relationship to preterm birth in Alberta, Canada. Health Care for Women Int 2006; 27: 777-792. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399330600880335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07399330600880335
Currie J, Joshua GZ, Katherine M, Matthew N, Wolfram S. Something in the water: contaminated drinking water and infant health. Canadian J Economics 2013; 46(3): 791-810. https://doi.org/10.1111/caje.12039 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/caje.12039
Ghosh S. Water access and sanitation shape birth outcomes and earning potential. https://india.mongabay.com/2018/11/ water-access-and-sanitation-shapes-birth-outcomes-and-earning-potential/ (accessed April 12, 2019).
Ruckart PZ, Bove FJ, Maslia M. Evaluation of contaminated drinking water and preterm birth, small for gestational age, and birth weight at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a cross-sectional study. BMC Environ Health 2014; 13: 99. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-13-99 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-13-99
Aschengrau A, Gallagher LG, Winter M, Butler L, Fabian MP, Vieira VM. Modeled exposure to tetrachloroethylene contaminated drinking water and the occurrence of birth defects: a case-control study from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. BMC Environ Health 2018; 17: 75. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-018-0419-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-018-0419-5
Eggleston E, Tsui AO, Kotelchuck M. Unintended Pregnancy and Low Birthweight in Ecuador. Amer J Public Health 2001; 91: 808-816. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.91.5.808 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.91.5.808
Shah PS, Balkhair T, Ohlsson A, Beyene J, Scott F, Frick C. Intention to Become Pregnant and Low Birth Weight and Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review. Mater and Child Health J 2011; 15: 205-216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-009-0546-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-009-0546-2
Yisak G, AberaHaftu SW, Haftom G. The Prevalence and Risk Factors for Low Birth Weight among Term Newborns in Adwa General Hospital, Northern Ethiopia. Obstetrics and Gynecology International 2017. (accessed April 12, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2149156 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2149156
Cogswell ME, Parvanta I, Ickes L, Yip R, Brittenham GM. Iron supplementation during pregnancy, anemia, and birth weight: a randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003; 78(4): 773-781. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/78.4.773 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/78.4.773
Haider BA, Olofin I, Wang M, Spiegelman D, Ezzati M, Fawzi WW. Anaemia, prenatal iron use, and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis. 2013. (accessed April 12, 2019)
Singh A, Pallikadavath S, Ogollah R, Stone W. Maternal Tetanus Toxoid Vaccination and Neonatal Mortality in Rural North India. PloS One 2012; 7: 11. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048891 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048891
Wegbom AI, Essi ID, Kiri VA. Estimation of the Family and Community Unobserved Heterogeneity Effects on the Risk of Under-Five Mortality in Nigeria using the Frailty Model. International Journal of Child Health & Nutrition 2020; 9(1): 17-25. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2020.09.01.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2020.09.01.3
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Policy for Journals/Articles with Open Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post links to their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work
Policy for Journals / Manuscript with Paid Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Publisher retain copyright .
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post links to their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work .