Low birth weight and associated socioeconomic and maternal characteristics among the beneficiaries of the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India: evidence from a community-based study and comparative analysis

Low birth weight (LBW, < 2.5 kg) is one of the major factors affecting child morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is considered a universal threat that creates an obstacle to child development in developing countries. The present cross-sectional study was carried out among 1240 preschool children (625 boys and 615 girls) randomly selected from 48 Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) centres in Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India. The study aimed to assess the relationship between birth weight and anthropometric and sociodemographic factors and maternal characteristics. Anthropometric variables, such as height and weight, were measured; one derived variable – Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated, and pre-tested questionnaires were used to collect some socioeconomic variables. The overall mean birth weight was 2.79 ± 0.48 kg, and the overall prevalence of LBW among children of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal was 26.37%. In both sexes and in all age groups, there were significant differences in height and weight between LBW and normal birth weight children. In normal birth weight children, all anthropometric variables showed significant age variation except for boys’ BMI. Binary logistic regression showed that boys had a greater chance of having an LBW than girls. Ethnicity, child’s birth order, father’s occupational status, source of drinking water, family income category, maternal height, and maternal weight had a greater impact on LBW children compared to reference categories. Anthropometric variables serve as indicators for determining the relative risks of LBW children, while socioeconomic demographic and maternal characteristics may be used as birth weight determinants.