eighed which requires alternative measures of Low Birth Weight. This study analyzes the prevalence and determinant
factors of infants’ size at birth from Ethiopian demographic and health survey data set.
Methods: In-depth analysis of the Survey data set was conducted using representative data collected from all
regions in the country. Considering reported fetal size at birth as an outcome variable, key predicting variables from
socio-demographic, household, child and maternal reproductive as well as obstetric and behavioral characteristics were
employed for analyses. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression model were used to determine predictors at
p value < 0.05.
Results: An average of 30.3% of Ethiopian babies were reported as small at birth by moms and a non-linear but
declining trend was observed during the study periods. Several socio-demographic, household, child and maternal
reproductive characteristics were identified as key predictors of small size babies at birth. Women who develop anemia
and not attending antenatal care during pregnancy, had a 15% and 41% added risk of having small size babies than
their counterparts (AoR = 1.15, and 1.41, 95% CI (1.02, 1.64 and 1.06, 1.88) respectively. Maternal age at delivery,
maternal literacy level, paternal educational status and presence of radio or television in the household and others were
also identified as key predictors of small size babies in Ethiopia.
Conclusions and recommendations: The prevalence of small size babies in Ethiopia is high but comparable to
regional estimates. It is recommend that improving maternal nutritional and socio-economic status is a timely intervention
to tackle the entire problem.