Effect of Maternal Caffeine Consumption on Low Birth Weight in Butajira, Southern Central Ethiopia: A nested Cohort Study

Abstract Background Caffeine consumption is common among people throughout the world, Africa and Ethiopia. The prevalence of the caffeine exposure during pregnancy was 69%-79% and excessive caffeine consumption during pregnancy was 14%-57% in most Western countries and in Ethiopia, the prevalence was 41%. The main source to caffeine is through coffee and tea in the world and African countries, including Ethiopia. Even though there were number of studies indicating caffeine intake has reported as a risk factor for low birth weight during pregnancy, the findings are not conclusive in western and no evidence in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study is designed to assess the effect of maternal caffeine consumption on low birth weight during late pregnancy. Objective The objective of this study was to determine effect of maternal caffeine consumption on low birth weight in Butajira Cohort, South central, Ethiopia. Method Population based Nested cohort study design was employed among 244 pregnant mothers from September 2018—May 2019 in Butajira. Beverages contain caffeine were collected by 24hour recall method. Birth weight was considered as outcome group. Pediatric weight scale was used for measurement of birth weight with in 72 hour after delivery. Pregnant mothers exposed to caffeine consumption greater than 200mg/day was considered as exposure group. The mean usual intake of caffeine was estimated by National cancer institute (NCI method). Finally the effect of Caffeine on low birth weight was analyzed by log binomial regression by STATA SE version 14. Results The study found that 26.2% of pregnant women had daily caffeine consumption more than or equal to 200mg/day. The risk of low birth weight was four times more likely to occur in exposed group than in unexposed group (ARR = 3.72; 95%CI: 1.76, 7.87). In other hand, the risk of low birth weight was four, five and five times more likely to occur in middle, rich and richest wealth status at (ARR = 4.61;95%CI (1.08,19.69,(ARR = 5.39;95%CI (1.23,23.58),(ARR = 4.54;95%CI(1.07,19.25) respectively than in poorest wealth status. Conclusion and recommendation In conclusion, excessive maternal caffeine consumption might results in low birth weight. Therefore, intervention that address caffeine exposure among pregnant mother should be designed to reduce the burden of low birth weight.