| Summary: | Background
Exposure to tobacco during pregnancy is an important
risk factor for the low birth weight of the newborns. Arua district has a high
prevalence of low birth weight (10.6%). Also,
the prevalence of tobacco use in the district is the highest in Uganda being
33.7% and 4.7% among men and women respectively. We aimed at establishing the
relationship between low birth weight and exposure to tobacco during pregnancy
in Arua district.
Methods
A facility
based un-matched case control study. Cases were mothers
that delivered newborns with birth weight less than 2500g during the study
period whereas controls were mothers that delivered newborns with birth weight
equal to or greater than 2500g during the study period. Two controls were
selected per case. A
semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect
information. Stratified analysis was performed and Odds ratios (OR) used as the
measure of association.
Results
Exposure
to tobacco during pregnancy was significantly associated with low birth weight (AOR=
2.21, 95%CI=1.31-3.74). The OR for the association between active tobacco use
during pregnancy and low birth weight was 8.2 (95%CI=3.46-21.45). After
adjusting for age of the mother, alcohol use during pregnancy and mother's
nutritional status, the Adjusted Odds Ratios(AOR) were 11.95(95%CI=4.89-29.16),
6.69(95%CI=2.92-15.37),
and 5.16(95%CI=2.24-11.86)
respectively. Tobacco farming and processing was also found to be significantly
associated with low birth weight (AOR= 2.98, 95%CI=1.54-5.79). Exposure to Second
Hand Smoke at home was significantly associated with low birth weight
(AOR=1.85, 95%CI=1.15-3.00).
Conclusions
Exposure
to tobacco during pregnancy was associated with low birth weight in Arua
district. We recommend intensive health education of mothers by the Ministry of
Health against exposure to tobacco during pregnancy.
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