Factors affecting birthweight in southeastern Nigeria
Ogun, G.E.; Okorafor, A.E.
Pan 1(1): 23-32
1985
PMID: 12282070 Document Number: 425392
This paper presents a short analysis of some of the factors affecting birthweight in Southeastern Nigeria. Although the literature review reveals that the factors affecting birthweight have been extensively and systematically investigated, this study involves the greatest number of live births (28,00) in comparison with any previous study based on Nigerian data. The average weight of child was calculated by parity, age of mother, and father's occupation. These 3 factors, in addition to the child's sex, all significantly affected birthweight. The results indicated that: 1) Males are generally heavier than females at birth. 2) Mean weight at birth tends to be low for low and high parities, the highest mean weights at birth being recorded between parities 3 and 6. 3) The highest mean weight at birth was recorded for children born to women aged 25-29 years. 4) The lowest mean weight at birth was recorded for children born to farmers, while the highest mean weight at birth was to children of wage earners. Children of traders had an average weight at birth. These factors were in keeping with the father's socioeconomic status. Overall, the present study has yielded results which are in agreement with experience in other parts of the world.