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Italian Journal of Pediatrics
Published in: Italian Journal of Pediatrics 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Review

Low birth weight and its associated factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Aklilu Endalamaw, Eshetu Haileselassie Engeda, Daniale Tekelia Ekubagewargies, Getaneh Mulualem Belay, Mekuriaw Alemayehu Tefera

Published in: Italian Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Different primary studies in Ethiopia showed the burden of low birth weight. However, variation among those studies was seen. This study was aimed to estimate the national prevalence and associated factors of low birth weight in Ethiopia.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar were searched. A funnel plot and Egger’s regression test were used to see publication bias. I-squared statistic was applied to check heterogeneity of studies. A weighted inverse variance random-effects model was applied to estimate the national prevalence and the effect size of associated factors. The subgroup analysis was conducted by region, study design, and year of publication.

Result

A total of 30 studies with 55,085 participants were used for prevalence estimation. The pooled prevalence of LBW was 17.3% (95% CI: 14.1–20.4). Maternal age < 20 years (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI:1.5–2.0), pregnancy interval < 24 months (AOR = 2.8; 95%CI: 1.4–4.2), BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (AOR = 5.6; 95% CI: 1.7–9.4), and gestational age < 37 weeks at birth (AOR = 6.4; 95% CI: 2.5–10.3) were identified factors of LBW.

Conclusions

The prevalence of low birth weight in Ethiopia remains high. This review may help policy-makers and program officers to design low birth weight preventive interventions.
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Metadata
Title
Low birth weight and its associated factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Aklilu Endalamaw
Eshetu Haileselassie Engeda
Daniale Tekelia Ekubagewargies
Getaneh Mulualem Belay
Mekuriaw Alemayehu Tefera
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Italian Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1824-7288
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-018-0586-6

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