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Predictors of Low Birth Weight: A Study in a Health and Demographic Cohort from Assam, India

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Abstract

Low birth weight is associated with morbidities and mortality in the later life. Prevalence of anemia and under nutrition in Assam were reported to be high which may correlate with low birth weight of infants. The present study assessed prevalence and risk factors for low birth weight in a health and demographic cohort established in Dibrugarh district, Assam. A total of 1437 deliveries (580 from rural and 857 from tea garden) were recorded during March 2019 to February 2020. Prevalence of low birth weight was 30.34%. Tea-garden community [OR: 1.4 (1.06–1.79)], low levels of maternal education [OR: 1.57(1.12–2.13)], low monthly income [OR: 2.1 (1.1–3.9)], pre-term birth [OR: 4.1 (2.2–7.9)] and mother with low BMI [OR: 1.6 (1.3–2.07)] were found to be significantly associated with low birth weight. Intervention strategies to improve socioeconomic condition, promote antenatal checkup and alleviate under nutrition in pregnant mothers are warranted to reduce low birth weight.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the expert group members namely Dr J. Mahanta (Former Director & Distinguished Scientist Chair, ICMR-RMRC, Dibrugarh), Dr N.K. Arora (Executive Director, INCLEN Trust International), Prof. (Dr) Achyut Ch. Baishya (Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital), Dr Sanjay Juvekar (Officer in Charge/Prof.& Head-Vadu Rural Health Program), Dr Sanjay Mehendale (Former Director, National Institute of Epidemiology), Prof. (Dr) R.M. Pandey (HOD, Department of Biostatistics, AIIMS, New Delhi), Dr Vishwajeet Kumar (Founder & CEO at Community Empowerment Laboratory), Dr Gourangie Gogoi (Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine AMCH, Dibrugarh, Assam) and Dr Milan Kr. Taye (Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, AMCH, Dibrugarh, Assam) for their valuable suggestions and constructive criticisms during the study. Efforts of the field staff for collection of individuals’ data by house-to-house visits and support from the participants of Dibrugarh-HDSS are thankfully acknowledged. The team members of Web.com, Guwahati, Assam deserves special compliment for developing the mobile application. The authors are also grateful to Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi for the funding to carry out this work.

Funding

This work was financially supported by Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, and Grant No: F.NO.5/7/1596/2018-RBMCH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India

    Reeta Rasaily

  2. ICMR Regional Medical Research Center, NE Region, Dibrugarh, Assam, 786 001, India

    Prakash Chetry, Kamakhya Borah, Jyotismita Pathak, Nilutpal Borah, Himanshu Saikia & Prasanta Kumar Borah

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  1. Reeta Rasaily
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  2. Prakash Chetry
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  3. Kamakhya Borah
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  4. Jyotismita Pathak
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  5. Nilutpal Borah
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  6. Himanshu Saikia
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  7. Prasanta Kumar Borah
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Contributions

RR and PKB conceptualized the study and finalized the study design; PKB, PC, KB, JP, HS, and NB carried out data collection and analysis was done by PKB, PC, KB and JP; All the authors contributed in data interpretation, draft preparation and review of draft; Final draft was approved by RR and PKB. All the authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. PKB will act as the guarantor for this paper.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Prasanta Kumar Borah.

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Ethics Approval

Institutional ethical clearance was obtained from ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region (No. RMRC/Dib/IEC(Human)/2017–18/3710).

Consent for Publication

The Director of ICMR-RMRC, NE Region has consented for publication, if accepted by “Indian Journal of Pediatrics.”

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Rasaily, R., Chetry, P., Borah, K. et al. Predictors of Low Birth Weight: A Study in a Health and Demographic Cohort from Assam, India. Indian J Pediatr 89, 1019–1021 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-022-04105-3

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