discussed earlier, we are focusing on the role of proximate
factors on birth weight with the assumption that these
proximate factors are in turn determined by a number of
other underlying factors which were not included in the
models here. However, independent research on the
underlying determinants of mothers’ nutritional status and
use of antenatal care services have indeed shown the critical
importance of individual, household and societal level
socio-economic factors [32, 35].
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.