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Association between antenatal care and low birth weight: findings from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey

Ambrose Akinlo, Obafemi Awolowo University & University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Nnenna Ananaba, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Low birthweight (LBW) is a valuable public health indicator of maternal health, healthcare delivery and poverty. Of over 20 million LBW infants born yearly across the world, Africa contributes about 13%. Reducing the burden of LBW has been shown to have important cost savings to both households and the health system. Therefore, we sought examine if receiving more ante natal care (ANC) services reduced the odds of LBW. Of the 8,093 births with recorded birth weights in our sample, 7.02% were LBW with only 373 mothers reporting receipt of ANC services. Mother’s age at birth, gestational age, mother’s educational level as well as number of ANC visits were associated with infant birth weight. Furthermore, mother’s age and gestational age were strongly associated with LBW in multivariable models. Public health awareness and interventions aimed at increasing uptake of antenatal care services especially among younger women is highly recommended.

Keywords: Fertility and childbirth, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Children and youth, Demographic and social surveys

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session P3.