title: Risk factors for low birth weight in Nigeria: evidence from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low birth weight (LBW) continues to be the primary cause of infant morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to identify the predictors of LBW in Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data for this study was extracted from the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey conducted by the National Population Commission. Several questionnaires were used in the survey, some covering questions on pregnancy characteristics. The inclusion criteria include mothers who gave birth to a child 5 years before the interview and aged 15-49 years who were either permanent residents or visitors present in the household on the night before the survey conducted. The birth weight of the infants was recorded from written records from the hospital cards or the mothers' recall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of LBW in this study was 7.3%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed an adjusted significant odds ratio for mothers from North West region (aOR 10.67; 95% CI [5.83-19.5]), twin pregnancy (aOR 5.11; 95% CI [3.11-8.39]), primiparous mother (aOR 2.08; 95% CI [1.15-3.77]), maternal weight of less than 70 kg (aOR 1.92; 95% CI [1.32-2.78]), and manual paternal employment (aOR 1.91; 95% CI [1.08-3.37]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk factors for LBW identified in this study are modifiable. In order to reduce this menace in Nigeria, holistic approaches such as health education, maternal nutrition, improvement in socio-economic indices, and increasing the quality and quantity of the antenatal care services are of paramount importance.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Population Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; maznahd@ummc.edu.my.
authors.forename: Maznah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahlui
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Pulau Pinang Campus, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nazar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azahar
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oche Mansur
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Oche
authors.affiliation: Centre of Population Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Norlaili Abdul
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Aziz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D016015:Logistic Models; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Nigeria; low birth weight; maternal and child health; risk factors