A Three-Year Review of Birth Weight Pattern Among Term Deliveries in Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Birth weight is a commonly used indicator of newborn maturity and health and a reliable predictor of postnatal survival. There is a need to determine the birth weight pattern and maternal factors that influence the birth weight in babies delivered at term. Objective: To determine the birth weight pattern and maternal factors influencing the birth weight of babies delivered at term. Methods: In this retrospective, descriptive study, the hospital records of all pregnant women who had childbirth at term in Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ogbomoso, Nigeria, from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2020, were retrieved. Data on birth weight and maternal obstetric factors were retrieved for analysis. Results: The mean age of the mothers was 30.52 ± 5.23 years. A total of 1072 deliveries were recorded during the study period. These consisted of 580 (54.1%) males and 492 (45.9%) females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.18:1. The caesarean section rate was 37.7%. The mean birth weight was 3.15±0.56 kg, and male babies had a higher mean weight (3.186±0.535kg vs 3.14±0.493kg). Normal birth weight (NBW) was recorded among 90.3%, while low birth weight (LBW) and high birth weight (HBW) were 6.7% and 3.0%, respectively. Only maternal comorbidities (p = 0.0001) and number of gestation (p = 0.0001) were significantly associated with birth weight. Conclusion: Maternal and foetal factors influenced the birth weights of the babies. Implementing measures to minimise the risk of delivering babies with abnormal birth weights is essential to improve newborn survival.