Maternal Biophysical Influence on Low Birth Weight: A study on Empowered Action Group States in India

The primary goal of the study is to examine the variation in infant mean birth weight and the heterogeneity in the distribution of LBW of infants from mothers with varying biophysical characteristics. As a result, the study also sought to identify the important determinants of the prevalence of low-weight birth in the study area. The study made use of fourth-round National Family Survey data from selected Empowered Action Group states in India. The analysis was carried out using one-way ANOVA, the Chi-square test, and multivariate binary logistic regression. The mean birth weight of infants varies significantly depending on the biophysical characteristics of the mother. Maternal height, weight, underweight nutritional status (OR = 1.285; p-value < 0.01), and severe & moderate anaemia level (OR=1.107; p-value<0.001) have all been identified as significant determinants of LBW. Aside from this, the birth interval and Convulsion during pregnancy have an impact on the prevalence of low birth weight in the study area. The prevalence of LBW in the region is close to 40.02 percent (based solely on weighted cases), which is higher than the national average. The government must invest more in various antenatal quality care and delivery care schemes for the selected states in order to bring these states out of a relatively high prevalence of LBW.