• Jharna Rani Das
• Aleya Khatun

Low birth weight is still a public health problem in Bangladesh. This cross sectional type of descriptive study was carried out with a view to assess birth weight and associated factors in public health care facilities in Western Bangladesh. The sample size was 300 which were selected purposively. Majority (36.3%) were in the age group of <20 years, majority (53.3%) had class 6 to 10 level of education i.e.; secondary level education. About 33.0% of the respondent’s husbands were farmer, 23.7% were businessmen and 17% of them were in service. The mean monthly family income of the respondents was Taka 11479.00 ± 8347.67. It was found that 68.0% of the respondents had normal nutrition (BMI 18.50 – 24.99), 3.7% were undernourished (BMI <18.50) and the mean BMI was 23.49 ± 3.70.Majority (51.7%) of the respondents’ age at marriage was <18 years, 37.3% of them had age at marriage ranging from 18 – 22 years. The mean age at marriage was 14.76 ± 3.39 years. Majority (60.3%) of the respondents had first issue at the age of <20 years, most (72.0%) of the respondents had <3 years birth interval of last child, most (74.7%) of the respondents had <3 years birth interval between 1st and 2nd child and most (96.7%) of the respondents had <3 years birth interval between 2nd& 3 rd child. Majority (92.7%) of the respondents had height of 140 cm or more and the average height of the mothers was 151.55 ± 7.11 cm. It was found that majority (99.7%) of the respondents’ gestational age in months of current pregnancy was 7months or more (3rd trimester). Most (99.3%) of the respondents’ new born were <2500 gm and the mean weight of the new born was 1976.33 ± 1526.66 gm. Majority (84.0%) of the respondents had mild anaemia, majority (92.0%) of them took three major meals daily, a half (50.0%) of the respondents took two times light meal. Majority (79.7%) of the respondents ate additional food during pregnancy. About half (54.0%) of the respondents had normal vaginal delivery last time, 24.7% had normal vaginal delivery with episiotomy and only 21.3% had caesarean sections. Majority (99.7%) of the respondents had LBW as last foetal outcome and majority (96.3%) of the respondents had single delivery last time. The age of the respondents and receiving ANC during last pregnancy, last foetal outcome weight of the new born baby was found statistically non-significant (p>0.05). The relationship between age and last pregnancy outcome was found statistically significant (p<0.01). The relationship between age of the respondents at first issue and last pregnancy outcome, last foetal outcome was found statistically non-significant (p>0.05). It was found that most (29.0%) the respondents had class 6-10 level of education, majority (32.67%) of the respondents were farmer, majorities (86.0%) of the respondents were from rural area and 75.33% of them were from joint families. Most (94.00%) of the respondents were Muslim, most (99.0%) of them did not have any smoking habit, majorities (97.0%) of the respondents did not have any systemic diseases, majorities (84.33%) of them received ANC during last pregnancy and 76.92% received micro nutrients.

Low Birth Weight, Newborns, Public Health, Nursing, Bangladesh

"Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight among Newborns Delivered at Public Health Facilities of Bangladesh", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 3, page no.f285-f294, March-2022, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2203537.pdf

"Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight among Newborns Delivered at Public Health Facilities of Bangladesh", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 3, page no. ppf285-f294, March-2022, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2203537.pdf