Factors Linked to Low Birth Weight Among Women Who Gave Birth at Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire De Kamenge, Bujumbura Province, Burundi

Low birth weights among women who gave birth continue to be a significant global concern. The World Health Organizations have expended a lot of time and money promoting healthy pregnancies and deliveries. Although a number of risk factors for unfavorable pregnancy outcomes in both women after delivery and their fetuses have been identified, little was known about the factors of low birth weight at Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Kamenge in Bujumbura. This unmatched case-control study, which was conducted in Bujumbura at the Maternity of the Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Kamenge (Hôpital Roi Khaled), focused on medical records of mothers of all ages after delivery. The goal of this research was to determine prevalence and the factors of low birth weight. The qualitative and quantitative indicators were used in the study's data collection techniques. The study used a systematic sampling technique. The study medical records were randomly chosen, while the Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Kamenge in Bujumbura was purposefully chosen. The study location had a total of 43 cases and 85 controls, and a principal investigator used a data abstraction form to collect the data from medical records. To gather more information, key informant was interviewed using Key Informant Interview Guide. Tables, graphs, logistic regression analysis and cross tabulations were used to illustrate the data, and the odd ratio was used to analyze the associations between the variables. Thematic analysis was done on qualitative data. The qualitative data explained, interpreted and supplemented the quantitative data. The findings indicated a statistically significant association between low birth weight and woman’s occupation (OR: 0.0481; 95% CI: 0.0047-0.4947), having medical chronic condition such as Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, HIV/SIDA and cardiac disease (OR: 0.4492; 95% CI: 0.2214-0.9112),exposure to multiple pregnancy, abnormal uterus and oligohydramnios/polyhydramnios (OR: 0.6448; 95% CL: 0.4306-0.9656).The study concludes that the occurrence of low birth weight among new born babies is influenced by woman’s occupation, medical chronic conditions and exposure to multiple pregnancy, abnormal uterus and amniotic liquid such as oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios. The study recommends strengthening of efforts towards improving the conditions in workplace, preventive measures against chronic diseases and regularly consult antenatal care for pregnancy monitoring. The research findings will be useful to the nutrition services planners, healthcare professionals, and politic leaders to assist them in creating pertinent policies, briefs, initiatives, and interventions with the goal of reducing the magnitude of low birth weight.