Nutritional status of young children born with low birthweight in a low resource setting: an observational study

BMC Pediatrics

Table 2 Baseline characteristics for the children and caretakers

Variable		Frequency	Percentage %
Sex of the child
Male		129	51.4
Female		122	48.6
Age of the child
22–30 months		141	56.2
31–38 months		110	43.8
Mode of delivery
Caesarean section		74	29.5
Vaginal delivery		177	70.5
Type of delivery
Multiple*		72	28.7
Singleton		179	71.3
Birth weight
≤1500 g		104	41.6
>1500 g		146	58.4
Child EBF
Yes		165	65.7
No		86	34.3
Duration of hospital stay
1–7 days		134	53.4
8–14 days		98	39.0
15–28 days		19	7.6
Mother’s Age
≤25 years	50		19.9
26-30years	103		41.1
> 30 years	98		39.0
Estimated Distance from home to hospital
< 5Km	28		11.1
5-15 km	212		84.5
≥ 15Km	11		4.4
Mother’s Education level
Primary below/none	51		20.3
Secondary/tertiary level	200		79.7
Mother’s Marital status
Married / co-habiting	199		79.3
Single / divorced/ separated	52		20.7
Mother’s Employment status
Employed	164		65.3
Not employed	87		34.7
Mother with social support
Yes	224		89.6
No	26		10.4
Number of children in family
1–2 children	111		44.9
3–4 children	87		35.2
>5 children	49		19.9
Mother’s BMI
< 18.5 (Underweight)	1		0.4
18.5 - ≤ 25 (Normal Range)	106		42.2
25.0- <30 (Overweight)	78		31.1
≥ 30 (Obese)	66		26.3

EBF: Exclusive Breastfeeding for first 6 months of life, *Multiple deliveries include 2 sets of children who were delivered as triplets and others were delivered as twins. BMI: Body Mass Index

ISSN: 1471-2431