Born healthy or not?: Identifying socioeconomic determinants of low- & normal-birthweight in Turkiye

Abstract

BackgroundBirthweight is accepted as a critical parameter playing a role in neonatal health. It is widely suggested that low birthweight (LBW) has impacts not only on early childhood but also on further lifespan stages.AimThis study aims to determine socioeconomic factors affecting low and normal birthweight (NBW) in Turkiye, using the data of the latest three waves of the Turkish Demographic Health Survey.MethodsThe study uses multivariate linear regression design and logistic regression with its marginal effects in the analyses.ResultsIt is revealed that the prevalence of LBW has not changed significantly during the period of interest. Higher maternal education, higher levels of wealth, living in the developed parts of Turkiye, being male and singleton were associated with (i) decreases in the probability of having LBW and (ii) increases in the probability of having NBW. Although smoking was not significantly associated with LBW, it is found to be related to decreases in the probability of NBW. Interestingly, maternal age and the number of ANC visits seemed to be irrelevant to birthweight.ConclusionsThis study revealed the socioeconomic variations that have potential to be prevented. It is important to develop policies to reduce these variations to contribute to neonatal health.