An Epidemiological Model Investigating the Association between Mothers Nutritional Status and Low Birth Weight in India

Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) is the dominating risk factor for infant morbidity and mortality. LBW infants were three times more likely than normal birth weight infants to have neuro developmental complications and congenital abnormalities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the term Low Birth Weight (LBW) as birth weight less than 2500 grams. Objective: To develop epidemiological model investigating the association between mother’s nutritional status and low birth weight in India. Data and Methods: Third round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) data collected during 2005-2006 is used for this study. This data provides a comprehensive picture of population and health conditions in India. To check the association between variables coefficient of contingency was calculated and multivariable logistic regression model was applied to check independent effect of covariates. Univariate, bivariate and multivariable logistics regression model has been developed to investigate the association between mother’s nutritional status and low birth weight in India. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated with 95% confidence interval. Conclusion: The prevalence of low birth weight was observed high among those women who were underweight, anemic, never visited for any ANC checkup. Emphasis needs to be given to maternal nutritional factors which are more persistent across India than the impact of other factors on birth weight. This can be done by selectively targeting interventions to improve nutrition.