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Prevalence of Low Birth Weight in Districts of Gujarat: A Temporal Comprehensive Study Based on Health Management Information System Data

Koustav Ghosh, Sunita V. Pandya, Gayatri S. Desai, Nilam V Panchal

Background: Globally 20.5 million babies suffered from low birth weight (LBW) and about four million deaths per year are caused by the same. LBW prevalence is higher in the developing countries compared to the developed ones. The present study investigates the district wise prevalence of LBW in last two years (2019-20 & 2020-21) along with spatial-temporal changes taken place between the times in districts of Gujarat.

Materials and Methods: The present study has used HMIS data (2019-20 and 2020-21) which is the official facility-based health service data source given by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. Arc-GIS 10.8 has been used to show the spatial prevalence and spatial-temporal changes of LBW.

Results: The prevalence of LBW has increased from 12.9% to 13.4% in between the year 2020 to 2021 in Gujarat. Only 39% of districts (13 districts) show the decreasing pattern and 61% of districts (21 districts) show increasing pattern of LBW in between 2019-20 to 2020-21 which is indicative of serious problems existing in those districts. Morbi district shows the highest improvement in LBW prevalence followed by Surendranagar, Gir Somnath, and Kheda etc. On the other hand, Navsari district represents the highest increase in the prevalence of LBW followed by Mahesana and Jam Nagar etc.

Conclusion: The study highlights the most vulnerable districts of LBW prevalence from Gujarat. So policy makers can implement a policy for the high prevalence districts and districts which have shown increase in LBW prevalence - to reduce the risk for the same in Gujarat.