Beyond The Numbers: Integrating Statistical Predictors With Lived Experiences Of Mothers Of Low Birth Weight Newborns Delivered In Tertiary Health Care Centre In Central India: A Mixed Method Study

Background: Birth weight is single most important determinant of chances of survival, healthy growth and development of newborn. India accounts for 40% of LBW births in developing world. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence and to study lived experiencesperceptions of LBW among mothers. Objectives: To estimate prevalence and to study predictors of LBW among newborns delivered in tertiary health care centre in central India and to study lived experiences of mothers of LBW newborns. Methodology: A mixed method study was conducted during January 2025 to March 2026. Randomly 380 mothers were enrolled, structured proforma used for collection of data and association was analysed using Chi-square test. Qualitative data was gathered through 35 in-depth interviews and analysed via manual content analysis. Results: Mean age ± SD of mothers was 24.69 ±4.03 years, Majority 261 (68.69%) were from 20-30 years age group, 238 (62.63%) were homemakers, 191 (50.26%) Hindu, 118 (31.06%) from socioeconomic class III and 167 (43.95%) primigravida. Prevalence of LBW was 39.47%. Among 380 deliveries, 203 (53.42%) were male babies. Mean weight of baby 2.50 ± 0.61 kg. 274 (72.10%) were delivered at-term, 91 (23.95%) were preterm. Factors like working mothers (OR= 7.97), educated <high school (OR= 2.72), lower socioeconomic class (OR= 1.65), anaemic (OR= 2.49), done <4 ANC visits (OR= 4.79), having less birth spacing (OR= 2.22), low pre-pregnancy weight (OR= 1.84), consumed <100 IFA tablets (OR= 6.27) and gained <9 kg weight during pregnancy (OR= 3.06) were more prone for delivering LBW baby as compare to others (p <0.05). Themes emerged were "Eat Last, Eat Least" Paradigm, Double Burden of Labor, Barriers to Navigating Health Systems, Cultural Perceptions of "Small" Babies, Psychological Stress and Household Agency. Conclusion: Prevalence of LBW was high. Many factors were modifiable thus; incidence can be reduced by early detection and prompt treatment.