Prevalence and Factors Associated With Adverse Birth Outcomes in Bangladesh: Evidence From the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey

ABSTRACT Background Adverse birth outcomes (ABOs) are a prevalent health issue that includes a number of unfavourable health consequences for both the mother and the newborn. Conditions such as still birth, low birth weight, preterm birth, and macrosomia are linked to a range of both immediate and long‐term complications. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify the determinants of ABOs in Bangladesh. Methods This study used data from the 2022 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), a nationally representative cross‐sectional survey. A total of 3322 cases of birth outcomes were included in the study. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed to summarise the explanatory variables and evaluate their associations with adverse birth outcomes. To identify the factors associated with adverse birth outcomes, a survey‐weighted multivariable logistic regression model was applied. Results The prevalence of adverse birth outcomes was 30.9% (95% CI: 29.3–32.5). Among these adverse outcomes, low birth weight contributed the largest share of 13.8% (95% CI: 12.6%–15%), followed by preterm birth which was 12.9% (95% CI: 11.8%–14.0%). Western region (aOR: 0.773, 95% CI: 0.633–0.943), teenage mothers (aOR: 1.287, 95% CI: 0.987–1.679), mother's higher education level (aOR: 0.575, 95%CI:0.351–0.943), multiple birth (aOR: 2.398, 95% CI: 1.213–4.744), unwanted pregnancy (aOR: 1.603, 95% CI: 1.287–1.997), place of birth at home (aOR: 2.633, 95% CI: 2.016–3.439) and intimate partner violence (aOR: 1.442, 95% CI: 1.129–1.843) were significant determinants of ABOs. Conclusions This study found that factors such as region, mother's education, multiple births, pregnancy intention and intimate partner violence are associated with ABOs in Bangladesh. It highlights the need to reduce regional disparities by implementing region‐specific interventions, special precautions to reduce teenage pregnancies, ensuring higher education for mothers, care for multiple pregnancies, support women with unplanned pregnancies, and prevent intimate partner violence to reduce ABOs.