Assessing the impact of antenatal care utilization on low birth weight: A hospital-based case-control study

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Original Article

Author Details : Neelima Alka Singh, Asim Khan, Arvind Kumar Sharma, Rajaat Vohra, Akash Mishra*, Niti Gahlot

Volume : 10, Issue : 2, Year : 2024

Article Page : 54-60

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.jpmhh.2024.014

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Abstract

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) being important determinant of child survival and development, is a preventable public health problem. The antenatal care (ANC) as an instrument that can reduce LBW, especially, in developing world with unexpectedly high level. Present study evaluated the effect of utilization of ANC services on LBW.
Materials and Methods: A hospital-based case-control study carried after the ethical approval at university hospital, Varanasi, India during October, 2019 to September, 2021 on mothers delivering singleton baby. The case and control mothers decided 86 and 129 in the ratio of 2:3 at a =5% and (1-b) = 90%. Data was collected on a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable forward logistic regression was performed. The statistical significance was judged at a = 0.05.
Utilization of ANC services, milk intake, tea and snacks intake and gestational age at birth emerged as the significant contributor to LBW.Likelihood of LBW babies was 2.83 times higher to mothers who hadn’t avail ANC services compared to those who had availed complete ANC services. Likelihood of LBW was also 3.73 and 3.16 times higher in mothers who hadn’t taken milk and had taken but occasionally compared to regular users. Mothers with tea and snacks frequency once or twice were 3.18 times more likely to birthing LBW babies than the mothers with frequency more than twice. The likelihood of LBW birth was as high as 7.61 times in pre-term birth as compared to full-term.
Conclusion: Complete ANC services be ensured through the gross root health workers. Milk and tea & snacks intake if not possible in mothers of poverty pockets, these be advised to add one extra meal in their routine meal.

Keywords: Low birth weight (LBW), Antenatal care (ANC), Maternal health, Preterm birth, Nutritional intake during pregnancy, Case-control study

How to cite : Singh N A, Khan A, Sharma A K, Vohra R, Mishra A, Gahlot N, Assessing the impact of antenatal care utilization on low birth weight: A hospital-based case-control study. J Prev Med Holist Health 2024;10(2):54-60

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