Application of Area to Point Kriging to Low Birth Weight Incidence in Ghana

Background: The study examines the spatial distribution of low birth weight by the ten administrative Regions in Ghana using Area to Point Kriging method. Low birth weight babies, defined by World Health Organization as babies born at term who weigh less than 2.5 kg is an important indicator of reproductive health and general health status of population. The incidence of LBW is quite high in the sub region which has a public health concern.

Methods: The study used a data set based on a Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey conducted by Ghana Statistical Service in 2011 with a sample of 10,963 women within the reproductive age. The geostatistical analysis applied in this study consists of three steps: filtering of noise in the data based on Poisson kriging, mapping of the corresponding risk at a fine scale and estimating geographical clustering of the low birth weight at the administrative units

Results: This study has demonstrated how geostatistical method can be used to model low birth weight incidence by administrative units. The Area to Point method employed has given an insight into a more localized potential “hot spots” for low birth weight incidence. The research showed a large range of spatial autocorrelation in the northern part than in the south in the incidence of low birth weight. The risk associated with low birth weight is centred broadly in the northern districts, districts in Central region and districts in the southern part of Ashanti region in the country which coincidentally are dominated by people of Sissala, Kassena, Mamprusi, Mole Dagbani, Wassa and Akan descends.

The least affected areas are those settlements along the Volta lake who are predominantly Ewes. This suggests that low birth weight incidence in Ghana is more of an ethnic problem with some cultural undertones and parity as a main contributing factor than any other factor.

Conclusion: The geostatistical method adopted has been able to identify a more localized potential “hot spots” for low birth weight incidence that may not be evident using other non geostatistical methods. The results further show that low birth weight incidence in Ghana is more of an ethno-cultural problem with parity as a driving factor.