Perceptions and practices related to birthweight in rural Bangladesh: Implications for neonatal health programs in low- and middle-income settings.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Globally, low birthweight (LBW) infants (<2.5 kilograms) contribute up to 80% of neonatal mortality. In Bangladesh, approximately 62% of all births occur at home and therefore, weighing newborns immediately after birth is not feasible. Thus, estimates of birthweight in Bangladesh are mostly obtained based on maternal perception of the newborn's birth size. Little is known about how birthweight is perceived in rural communities, and whether families associate birthweight with newborn's health status. Our objective was to explore families' perceptions of newborn's birthweight, and preventive and care practices for a LBW newborn in rural Bangladesh. METHODS:We conducted a qualitative study in two rural settings of Bangladesh, including 32 in-depth interviews (11 with pregnant women

SUBMITTER: Nisha MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6936797 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature