# Time to adequate weight gain and predictors among low-birth-weight preterm neonates at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of hospitals in Bahir-Dar

## TL;DR

This study examines how long it takes for low-birth-weight preterm babies to gain adequate weight and identifies factors influencing this process in Ethiopia.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific maternal and delivery-related predictors of weight gain in low-birth-weight preterm neonates.

## Key findings

- The median time to adequate weight gain was 15 days.
- Spontaneous vaginal delivery and longer labor duration were significant predictors of faster weight gain.
- Absence of maternal medical problems also predicted faster weight gain.

## Abstract

Weight gain in low birth-weight babies remains a challenge to the management of the neonatal period in low and middle-income countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the time to adequate weight gain and its predictors among low-birth-weight preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of public hospitals in Bahir Dar City. An institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted from March 4 to April 3, 2023, using three years of data. About 344 low-birth-weight preterm babies were recruited and followed up until 28 days of age. Model goodness-of-fit was checked by Cox Snell residuals test. The Cox-Proportional Hazards Model was used to assess predictors of weight gain with a statistically significant level of P-value < 0.05. The median weight gain time was 15 days with an overall incidence density rate of 6.3 per 100 person-day of observation (95% CI 0.055, 0.071). Absence of medical problems of mothers (AHR: 1.63, 95% CI 1.015, 4.614), spontaneous vaginal mode of delivery (AHR: 1.53, 95% CI 1.028, 2.593), and long duration of labor (AHR: 3.18, 95% CI 1.579, 6.413) were significant predictors. The time of adequate weight gain was long. Early detection and management of significant predictors is recommended.