Prematurity and Low Birth Weight Among Food-Secure and Food-Insecure Households: A Comparative Study in Surabaya, Indonesia

TL;DR

This study in Surabaya, Indonesia, finds that food-insecure households are more likely to have low birth weight babies and that maternal education and household wealth affect prematurity and child health.

Contribution

The study identifies specific socioeconomic factors linked to prematurity and low birth weight in food-insecure versus food-secure households in Indonesia.

Findings

Food-insecure households had a higher risk of low birth weight infants (AOR = 0.54).

Low maternal education increased the risk of preterm birth (AOR = 3.23).

House ownership was associated with prematurity, reflecting household wealth.

Abstract

Background: Prematurity and low birth weight (LBW) drive infant morbidity and mortality, requiring nutritional interventions, especially in food-insecure settings. In Indonesia, regional disparities in food security hinder adequate nutrition for premature and LBW infants, exacerbating health challenges. The aim of study is to investigate and determine factors associated with prematurity and LBW in children from food-insecure and food-secure households. Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional study with 657 mothers of children aged 36–59 months, conducted using random sampling. Data was collected via standardized questionnaires and analyzed using Chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results: The adjusted model showed that children of food-insecure households had a higher risk of LBW (AOR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.29–0.99; p < 0.05). LBWs were found to significantly less occur in food-insecure households. Low maternal education was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (AOR = 3.23; 95% CI:1.78–5.84; p < 0.001). Furthermore, prematurity correlated with house ownership (p < 0.01), indicating the household’s wealth condition. Maternal education and house ownership were linked to prematurity, indicating the risk to child health outcomes. In summary, maternal education, employment status, and household income were linked to food insecurity, indicating the risk to child health outcomes. Conclusion: Strategies to improve child health outcomes are essential, including enhancing maternal nutrition knowledge to improve child feeding practices, promoting gender equality in career development, and reducing food insecurity in households.

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