Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low birth weight (LBW) and neonatal deaths have continued to be a major global challenge. The global prevalence of LBW is 15.5 per cent, which amounts to about 30 million LBW infants born each year, 96.5 per cent of them are found in developing countries according to the World Health Organization. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with LBW amongst children aged 0 to 15 months at immunization clinics brought by mothers at health centers in Kicukiro district, Kigali city, Rwanda. METHODS: A cross-sectional design, quantitative approach was used. Three hundred forty nine participants were chosen by a systematic sampling technique. A questionnaire using Open Data Kit (ODK) and SPSS version 21 were used for data collection and analysis respectively. Multivariable analysis was utilized to identify the factors associated with LBW for p-value <0.05. RESULTS: The LBW prevalence in Kicukiro District, Kigali was 23.8%. Adolescent mothers under 18 years (AOR=32.49, p=002), pre-delivery weight loss (AOR=2.18, p=018) and multiple babies (AOR=6.16, p=004) were significantly associated with LBW. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, low birth weight is an important problem that needs to be addressed in Kicukiro district. Interventions would mainly focus on the key determinants of low birth weight relating to adolescent mothers under 18 years, pre-delivery weight loss and mothers with multiple babies.