Abstract:
Purpose: To determine maternal factors associated with low birth weight among neonates born at Thika
Level Five Hospital in Kiambu County, Kenya.
Methodology: Cross sectional convergent design was employed. The target group composed of mothers
who delivered in the hospital during the study period (July-August, 2019). Census method was used to
recruit participants for a quantitative study. Purposive sampling was used to select participants for FGDs
and KIIs. Sample size was determined using the Cochran formula. Desired sample size was 210 mothers
which was adjusted to 215 participants. Independent variables included: socio-demographic, socio
economic, socio-cultural, behavioral, and health of the mothers. Dependent variable was LBW which was
classified further into LBW, very LBW, extremely LBW. (UNICEF, 2010). Quantitative and qualitative
data were analyzed using Stata statistical version 14, logistic regression and NVivo version 14 respectively,
Findings: ≥35 years of mothers OR=13.67, p=0.018, CL [1.55-120.12] and the second born children
OR=2.98; p=0.025; CL [1.15-7.73] were associated with the overall LBW. Secondary level education
OR=0.35; p=0.03; CL [0.14-0.91] was a protection against LBW. Meru OR=17.429, p=0.016, CI [1.7162
176.991] and other tribes OR=10.479, p=0.048, CI [1.025-107.124] were associated with low birth weight.
Hypertension OR=3.59; p=0.038; CL [0.14-0.91] and malaria (OR=51.250, p=0.005, CL [3.185-822.132])
were associated with very LBW. ANC-attendance (OR=0.068, p=0.37, CL [0.0055-0.845]) was a
protection against extremely LBW OR= 0.07; p=0,037; CL [0.01-0.85].
Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: ≥35 years of mothers are risk factors for low birth
weight. Second child is at risk of being low birth weight. Neonates of Meru origin and other minority ethnic
groups in Thika are at risk of being LBW. Secondary level education is a protection against low birth
weight. Hypertension and malaria are risk factors for very low birth weight. ANC-attendance is a protection
against extremely low birth weight. The County Government of Kiambu should develop suitable strategies
of strengthening maternal and child services at level one.
Keywords: Socio-demographic, Socio-economic, socio-cultural, maternal health and behavior, low birth weight
(LBW)
