Abstract:
Introduction: The magnitude of low birth weight was estimated to be 13% globally in
2013 by UNICEF. Some studies have alluded that adolescence is associated with low
birth weight. This study was done to assess whether teenage mothers had the same
risk factors for low birth weight as the adult mothers in Tshwane District.
Method: A case control study of retrospective data was done comparing low birth
weight babies of teenage mothers and low birth weight babies of adult mothers for
January to December of 2014. Normal birth weight babies were selected as controls
from the same age groups with 1:1 ratio. A total sample size of 1 073 was reached
and data analysis using STATA 14® was done to identify risk factors. Results: Out of a total sample of 1 073, about 77 % were adult mothers and 23%
teenage mothers. Our study confirms that mothers are at an increased risk for low
birth weight when they deliver prematurely OR 6.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.41
to 13.60 and p value <0.001. Women who attend 4 or less antenatal visits had
increased odds (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.86 and p value 0.028) of delivering a low
birth weight baby than mothers who attended 5 or more times. When mothers were
grouped by age, teenage mothers were more likely to deliver a low birth weight baby
when they delivered prematurely (AOR 5.81, 95 % CI 2.27 to 14.07; p value <0.001)
while for adult mothers, delivering prematurely (AOR 6.58, 95% CI 3.38 to 12.82; p
value <0.001) and attending antenatal care less than 4 times (AOR 1.33, 95 % CI 1.02
to 1.72; p value 0.032) were risk factors. We further found that delivering preterm low
birth weight babies was associated with young maternal age (AOR 0.47; 95% CI 0.31
to 0.71; p value <0.001) and attending less than 4 antenatal visits (AOR 1.92, 95% CI
1.06 to 3.47; p value 0.030). Conclusion: This study is the first to stratify risk factors for low birth weight for
teenage mothers in Tshwane District. Teenage mothers are less likely to deliver low
birth weight babies though they have a higher risk if they deliver prematurely.
