Effectiveness of a ‘health promotional’ intervention in enabling lay communities to change determinants of low birth weight

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a ‘health promotional’ intervention by lay people in changing determinants of low birth weight, when added to the existing package of antenatal care provision.

Method: A quasi-experimental study design was used. An intervention was carried out among 403 pregnant women and their partners. Intervention group (IG) was recruited from participants registered to routine field antenatal services in the Anuradhapura district. A comparison group (CG) of 403 pregnant women and their partners was recruited from an adjacent district. Both groups were recruited in the first trimester of pregnancy. The intervention was based on health promotion principles and used a model previously piloted in Sri Lanka. Data from the Child Health Development Record (CHDR) available at the health clinic were used to determine birth weights.

Results: Significant improvements were seen in the IG, compared to the CG, in the care given to the pregnant mothers by their families, and level of control over identified determinants of low birth weight (LBW). The prevalence of LBW in the IG was 10.0% and in the CG 19.2%. (X²=12.465; p<0.001) with an adjusted OR of 0.5 (95% CI; 0.2-0.8) and mean birth weight in the IG 2987g and in the CG 2772.4g (t=6.934; df=726; p<0.001).

Conclusion: The community centred health promotion intervention model was effective in enabling lay communities to change selected determinants of LBW and enabled lay communities to change determinants of LBW.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health 2018; 47: 233-241