A Case-Control Study on Maternal caffeine intake during Pregnancy and Risk of Low Birth Weight in Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) recommends caffeine intake during pregnancy should be lower than 300 mg/day. Maternal caffeine intake is associated with adverse birth outcomes. However, little information is available on maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy and its effect on birth weight. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the level of maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy and its effect on birth weight in Wolaita zone hospitals in South Ethiopia. . Method: The case-control study design was applied from March 1 to July 30, 2019. A total of 395 mothers (99cases and 296 controls) were interviewed by trained data collectors using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were taken both from mothers and newborns. The association between maternal caffeine intake and birth weight was computed through bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses and statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. Results: : Mean (±SD) caffeine intake among pregnant women was 342±172 mg/day. A vast majority of the respondents 374(94.7%) consumed caffeine during the current pregnancy, out of this 269(68%) ingested 300mg or more of caffeine per day (high consumers).Relatively more mothers of low birth weight infants were consumed high caffeine 87(87.9%) compared with controls (51.5%). multivariable logistic regression model indicated that those mothers who consumed high caffeine during pregnancy were four times more likely to have a newborn with low birth weight (AOR= 4.1( 95% CI 1.2, 10.1) Conclusion: This research result gives insight for health professional should be aware of the impact of heavy caffeine consumption on birth outcome and try to screen and consulate pregnant mothers who are at risk of having infants with LBW and provide skilled nutritional counseling during ANC visits, including the intake of caffeine.