CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.0 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 

More than 20 million infants worldwide representing 15.5% of all births are born with low birth weight, 95.6% of them in developing countries (United Nations Children Fund, 2008). Low birth weight is of public health concern because of the increased morbidity associated with it. The level of low birth weight in developing countries is 16.5% and it is more than double the level in developed regions which is 7% (United Nations Children Fund and WHO, 2004). 

The exact number of deliveries in Nigeria is not known. The percentage of low birth weight may not be known but the absolute figure is probably enormous. In developed countries such babies will be a burden on the government but in Nigeria and other developing countries, they are likely to be a permanent burden on the families. With the poor resource setting we have in Nigeria, such burden will worsen the economic fortunes of the poor families.

1.1 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In this era when medicine is emphasizing primary treatment (preventive medicine) epidemiology becomes a veritable tool. Epidemiology of low birth weight is the study of the phenomenon, factors that affect it and the use of the knowledge in managing the phenomenon. Some of the factors known in literature that affect birth weight are modifiable like the social and environmental factors. They can easily change. Some factors are not modifiable and may have statistical relationship with the birth weight as a dependent variable. Gestational age, parity, age of mother and sex of baby are non-modifiable factors. In-depth knowledge of these factors and their relationship with birth weight is necessary for Obstetricians, Pediatricians, Public Health Physicians and Health Policy makers to understand the epidemiology of low birth weight and reduce its prevalence and associated public health consequences. Literature is scanty in Nigeria including Anambra State. No statistical model has been developed yet to address this issue. This study proposes to examine these factors namely parity, maternal age, gestational age of index pregnancy and sex of index baby and develop an exploratory model of these determinants of birth weight that may be useful in epidemiological studies.

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