Assessment of Postnatal Weight Gain Patterns and its Predictors Among Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Selected Public Hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Abstract:
Back ground: Very low birth weight (≤1500 grams, <37 weeks gestation) is a leading cause of newborn mortality, significantly predicting deaths in the first 28 days.
Objective: To assess pattern of post natal weight gain and its predictor among very low birth weight preterm neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care units.
Methods: An institutional-based retrospective study was conducted on a sample of 422 very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm neonates from January 2022 to January 2025. Data were collected, coded, and entered using Kobo Toolbox, and then exported to SPSS Version 27 for analysis. Variables with a p-value < 0.25 were used for bivariate analysis and entered into multivariate logistic regression analysis, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and p-values were considered.
Result: A total of 413 samples were analyzed, and 78.2% exhibited adequate postnatal weight gain, with an average weight gain of 19.6 g/kg/day. Factors significantly associated with adequate weight gain were delivery via SVD: AOR = 2.56 (1.40-4.69), regaining birth weight within 14 days: AOR = 4.91 (1.28-18.75), feeding every two hours: AOR = 3.30 (1.79-6.10), kangaroo mother care: AOR = 4.42 (2.38-8.21), and oxygen use for less than 9 days: AOR = 2.75 (1.30-5.84).
Conclusion & Recommendations: The postnatal weight gain in VLBW neonates exceeded the recommended guide lines outlined in the Ethiopian neonatal intensive care unit. Based on these findings, we recommend implementing enhanced care protocols for very low birth weight preterm neonates, prioritizing early detection and management of comorbidities, and encouraging optimal feeding practices.
