Birth Weight and Associated Factors among Host and Refugee Neonates at Health Facilities in Gambella Region: A facility based Comparative Cross-sectional Study

Background: Birth weight remains as one of the facing factors and one of the leading causes of child suffering worldwide. This is a major problem especially in low and middle income countries and most importantly in vulnerable populations like refugee. However, there is a limited evident as yet in the study area. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the birth weight and associated factors among host and refugee neonates at health facilities in Gambella Region. Methods A facility based comparative cross-sectional study was applied in host and refugee settings. A total of five hundred ninety six neonates were included in this study from February 1st, 2020 to March 31st, 2020 through multi-stages sampling technique. The data were collected using structured interview and documents review methods with structured questionnaires as instruments. Pretesting of the tool and training of data collectors and field supervision were made. Using statistical package for social science version 25, variables with p ≤ 0.05 from multiple linear regression analysis were declared as factors significantly associated with the birth weight. Furthermore, independent samples t-test was computed to compare the mean birth weights. Results The study resulted in 100% response rate. The mean birth weights were found to be significantly difference between host and refugee neonates with means of 3282.55 ± 415.97 grams and 3109.40 ± 635.10 grams respectively (m 1 -m 2  = 173.15, 95% CI: (86.75, 259.56)). Several factors such as number of fetuses (β = -148.35, 95% CI: (-234.86, -61.83)), gestational age at delivery (β = 90.83, 95% CI: (66.72, 114.93)), household food security status (β = 166.33, 95% CI: (100.68, 231.97)), individual dietary diversity score (β = 88.75, 95% CI: (68.69, 108.81)) and pregnancy induced hypertension (β = -148.35, 95% CI: (-234.86, -61.83)) were found to be the most influential factors significantly associated with the birth weight. Conclusions In the study area, host neonates have larger mean birth weight than the refugee neonates. Number of fetuses, gestational age at delivery, household food security, individual dietary diversity score and pregnancy induced hypertension were factors influencing the birth weight.