Low birth weight among tribal in India: Evidence from National Family Health Survey-4

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the Low Birth Weight (LBW) of newborn infants among the tribal population in India. Methods and Materials: Study analyses 1,93,345 tribal children aged 0-5 years from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey data (NFHS-4, 2015-16). Logistics regression has been performed to investigate the correlates of low birth weight. Results: Results show that every fifth newborn child among tribal in 165 districts is LBW and total of 232 districts have proportionately higher LBW than the national average (18.2%). Newborns belonging to Scheduled Tribes in Madhya Pradesh (30 districts), Maharashtra (19 districts), Rajasthan (19 districts), Odisha (19 districts), Gujarat (16 districts), Bihar (12 districts), Karnataka (10 districts), West Bengal (9 districts) and Andhra Pradesh (5 districts) -have higher proportion of low birth weight than the national average. Univariate Global Moran's I index shows that 21% of districts have positive auto correlation for the prevalence of LBW among tribals. Mother's age at birth, mother's education, ANC visits and wealth index are important in determining the LBW of a newborn. Conclusion:The prevalence of LBW is higher among tribal population. Mother's education, wealth index, ANC visits, Mother's age at birth are key determinants that need to be addressed to reduce prevalence of LBW among the tribal population. The government needs to focus on marginalized communities with target based intervention and policies. were below the poverty line, the proportion among the rest was 20.5%.

Factors Associated with The Incidence of Low Birth Weight

“…According to other studies, this condition illustrates that the incidence of LBW is not only influenced by age but also influenced by other factors, such as illness that accompanies pregnancy or lack of nutritional intake during pregnancy (9). Mother's age at birth is determinant of LBW among tribal population (10).…”

Effect of Preconception Care Intervention on Maternal Nutritional Status and Birth Outcome in a Low-Resource Setting: Proposal for a Nonrandomized Controlled Trial

“…The present rate of decline, however, is insufficient to meet the 12 5-year plan goals. According to India’s National Family Health Survey–4 (2015-16), the prevalence of low birth weight infants is high in tribal-dominated states, with Odisha reporting the highest number of low birth weight newborns compared to the national average [ 14 ]. Inadequate antenatal care services, a low number of antenatal visits, and poor health-seeking behavior, such as delaying timely intervention and accessing emergency obstetric care, were recently linked to the occurrence and prevalence of obstetric complications like preterm deliveries, prolonged labor, and low birth weight babies, according to a population-based study conducted in Khordha district of Odisha [ 15 ].…”

An insight into the prevalence of low birth weight in Madhya Pradesh

“…The WHO distinguishes newborn infants with weight less than 2500 g as low birth weight (LBW) infants. 1 LBW is substantially affiliated to infant morbidity, mortality, and risk of developmental disabilities and diseases amid infants. 2 At the household and individual level, a wide continuum of child health occurs due to many influences.…”

“…3 While birth weight is an indicator of a newborn's chances for survival, growth, long-term health and psychosocial development-it is also an indicator of the mother's health and nutritional status. [1][2][3] birth weight infants are three times more likely than normal birth weight infants to have neuro-developmental complications and congenital abnormalities. 5,6 Thus, this study was carried out with an aim to find out the prevalence of low birth weight in Sanwer block in Madhya Pradesh.…”