The results also showed that use of unprotected drinking
water increased the risk of low birth weight by 26%;
similarly mothers who suffered from moderate to severe
anaemia experienced a moderate increase in the risk—by
13%. Compared to children born to mothers aged 25 and
above, the newborns born to those who were in their
adolescence (19 years or less) were 31% more likely to be
underweight at birth. It is also interesting that the mothers’
reported size of the baby was more likely to be smaller than
average if it was a baby girl rather than a baby boy.