Low birth weight as a risk factor for
infant mortality in Egypt
Authors:
R. Hong and M. Ruiz-Beltran
Source:
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 14(5):992-1002.
Topic(s):
Birth weight Infant mortality
Country:
Africa
Egypt
Published:
SEP 2008
Abstract:
We examined the risk of infant mortality among low-birth-weight children (< 2500 g) controlling
for other risk factors of infant mortality. We used survival regression analysis on 11 361 childbirths
in the 5 years preceding the 2000 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey. Higher birth order; shorter
birth interval; lack of prenatal care, safe sources of drinking-water and hygienic toilet facilities; living
in urban residence and Upper Egypt rural region were associated with a higher risk of infant mortality.
The multivariate model indicated that low-birth-weight children were about 3 times more likely to die in
infancy than other children (hazard ratio = 2.89, 95% CI: 2.33–3.58) independent of other risk factors.