1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
In 1948, the first World Health Assembly adopted an international definition of prematurity as birth weight of 2.5kilograms or less (UN (2004)). It was however discovered that in developing countries the use of this standard resulted in an unusually high proportion of 'premature' babies most of who were not born prematurely (Yilgwanet.al. ,2004). The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1994 then conducted a study on eighteen different countries at different stages of development.
This revealed that babies could be classified into three main groups based on their birth weight and gestational age: Small for gestational age, appropriate for age, large for age. Low birth weight was then defined as those babies weighing less than 2.5kilograms within twenty four hours of birth. This group of babies can either be small for age or appropriate for age and they are usually at high risk of dying in their first twenty eight days of life from factors like hypoglycaemia, sepsis, respiratory distress, prematurity etc. In Nigeria, neonatal death (death of an infant in the first twenty eight days of live) contributes about 25% of the total infant mortality with prematurity and low birth weight being the main contributor to these high neonatal deaths(Grange, 2006).
A reduction of at least one-third in the proportion of infants with low birth weight is one of the seven major goals for the current decade of the “A World Fit for Children” programme of the United Nations. Moreover, nutritional deprivation €“ the major determinant of low birth weight €“ is a clear obstacle to the attainment of many of the Millennium Development Goals. Monitoring improvements in low birth weight is thus being given high priority within the UN system, as well as by national governments and the international nutrition community.
Although the significance and interpretation of low birth weight has recently been debated, most experts agree that weight at birth is an indicator of a new born's chances for survival, growth, long-term health and psychosocial development. Babies whose birth weight is low as a result of undernourishment face a greatly increased risk of death during their first months and years of life (Bale et.al.,2003, UN, 2000, Allen & Gillespie, 2001). The evidence also suggests that those children who do survive may be more likely to experience health problems throughout their lives; these include impaired cognitive development, as well as diabetes and coronary heart disease in adulthood (Bhargavaet.al., 2004, Barker, 2003). Low birth weight in developing countries occurs primarily because of poor maternal health and nutrition. A variety of socioeconomic, medical, and psychosocial factors are known to increase the risk of low birth weight, but prevention programs aimed at primarily high-risk subgroups have been largely ineffective.
In addition, diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria and respiratory infections, which are common in many developing countries, can significantly impair foetal growth when women become infected during pregnancy (Bale et.al.2003, UN 2000). In Nigeria just like in many developing countries, low birth weight is a significant contributor to the overall infant mortality rate and a major factor in the high neonatal mortality rate currently seen.
This research work however seeks to check for the dependence of birth weight on some factors which may affect it such as parity, maternal height, maternal age, gestation period, and gestation weight using the Chi-Square test of independence, regression analysis to see possible statistical relationships if any exists among the variables in question.
1.2 Objectives of the Study
This current study will be conducted with the sole aim of assessing the impact of:
- Birth-weight on maternal age
- Birth-weight on Parity
- Birth weight on Gestational age
- Birth-weight on Maternal weight
- Birth weight on Maternal height
- and finally, to estimate a model which will be able to predict an infant's birth weight from afore mentioned factors.
1.2 Significance of the Study
This research work explores the dependency of child's birth weight on some factors which may affect it, therefore it will be significant to medical practitioners, maternity specialists and potential parents. It will also be of great benefits to future researchers who wish to explore issues concerning birth weight of a child.
1.3 Scope and Limitation of the Study
The prevalence of low birth weight in Nigeria has been put previously at 16%, 9% and 12% (UNICEF 2001, 2003). Every single day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under-five year olds. This may be associated with the incidence of low birth weight in the country, thus making the country the second largest contributor to under-five mortality in the whole world (UNICEF, 2008).
Hence, the importance of this study cannot be overemphasized; this research paper seeks to investigate some factors which may affect the birth weight from the statistical perspective.
This research is however limited to data obtained from the University of Abuja teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
1.4 Definition of Terms
Neonates:
This refers to an infant in its first twenty eight (28) days or less than a month.
Birth Weight:
This is the body weight of a baby at birth or just after birth.
Gestation Period:
This is the time in which the foetus develops in the womb, beginning at fertilization and ending at birth
Preterm Birth:
This is the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestationa age.
Posterm:
This is a pregnancy that extends to 42 weeks and above.
Premature Birth:
This is the birth of a baby before the developing organs are mature enough to allow normal postnatal survival.
Mortality:
This is the state of being mortal or being susceptible to birth.
Parity:
This is the state of having borne off springs or the number of times a female has given birth.
Morbidity:
This is an incidence of ill health, or the rate at which a person falls ill.
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