Inadequate Utilization of Prenatal Care Services, Socioeconomic Status, and Educational Attainment Are Associated with Low Birth Weight in Zimbabwe.
BACKGROUND
Globally, low birth weight (LBW) remains a leading cause of neonatal and infant mortality and poses significant challenges toward the progress of achieving infant mortality-related goals. Experience from developed countries shows that two major causes of LBW (premature delivery and intrauterine growth restriction) can be averted to a great extent by adequate utilization of maternal health-care services, during pregnancy. In this study, we attempt to measure the prevalence of LBW in Zimbabwe and explore the association between adequate utilization of prenatal care (PNC) services and LBW in Zimbabwe. We also explore other possible associations with LBW.


METHODS
This study was based on nationally representative, cross-sectional data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey round 5, conducted in 2014. Participants included 3,221 mothers from both rural and urban areas. The participants were selected regardless of their current pregnancy status. Sample characteristics were presented using descriptive statistics. Association between utilization status of ANC and LBW was measured by chi-square (bivariate) test and logistic regression methods.


RESULTS
Prevalence of LBW was 12.8%. There was 11% reduction in the odds of having LBW babies for participants from urban area when compared with rural area (AOR = 0.897; 95% CI = 0.707-1.138). When compared to women with higher education, those having primary/below primary and secondary level qualification had higher odds of experiencing LBW babies by 73 and 56%, respectively. Participants who had less than four PNC/ANC visits had 34% higher odds (AOR = 1.340; 95% CI = 1.065-1.685) than those with at least four visits, and those who had given birth more than once, had 38% lower odds (AOR = 0.620; 95% CI = 0.493-0.780) of giving birth to LBW babies when compared to those who had given birth only once.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study have programmatic and policy implications for low-resource nations and suggest that promoting access to ANC services especially in the rural areas is likely to reduce prevalence of LBW in Zimbabwe. This is important as LBW babies consume lot of health resourcesper seand not only in terms of hospitalization but also in terms of outpatient and physician visits during the first year of their life.
Faculty of Social Sciences, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, ON , Canada.
Sanni
S
Yaya
School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , China.
Ghose
G
Bishwajit
The Women's Health and Action Research Centre , Benin City , Nigeria.
Michael
M
Ekholuenetale
Interdisciplinary School Health Sciences, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, ON , Canada.
Vaibhav
V
Shah
Zimbabwe; global health; low birth weight; neonatal and infant mortality; prenatal care