Prevalence and predictors of low birth weight in India: Findings from the 2015-2016 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4)

Abstract

Background: The main factor for the survival, growth, and development of a newborn is the birth weight. Low birth weight (LBW) infants are likely to be born with congenital heart anomalies and prone to more serious problems like sepsis, respiratory, metabolic and neurodevelopmental disorders. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) of India 2015-16, the prevalence of LBW is at 18.2% of all live births. There is no proper data accounted for the LBW prevalence at the national level in the form of either birth certificate or hospital discharge data forms, even though India has the highest reported rates for LBW in the world. Aim: This paper determines the prevalence of LBW and the factors influencing it in India, as well as mapped distribution by state. The study will help understand the main factors causing LBW and contribute to developing interventions and policies to reduce the incidence of LBW. Methods: This study consisted of secondary data analysis of the India NFHS-4 (2015-2016) data. The descriptive results were obtained through chi-square and t-test. Predictors causing LBW in India were obtained by univariate and multivariable logistic regression results. The causal diagram was drawn using Directed Acyclic graph to obtain the potential confounders of the association between maternal age at the time of delivery and LBW. Results: Predictors causing LBW in India are mother’s age at the time of delivery, female child, birth interval less than 24 months, mother’s low educational level, poor wealth index, rural residence, no insurance coverage, history of infant death, mother’s low BMI, being anemic, and inadequate ANC visits during pregnancy. Maternal age at the time of delivery is significantly associated with LBW after controlling for confounders. Mothers aged below 18 at the time of delivery are at higher risk of having a LBW child compared to other women (OR: 1.212, 95% CI: 1.172 - 1.303).