ARC Journal of Nursing and Healthcare Volume 4, Issue 3, 2018, PP 20-24 ISSN No. (Online) 2455-4324 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2455-4324.0403005 www.arcjournals.org ARC Journal of Nursing and Healthcare Page | 20 Assessment of Low Birth Weight and Associated Factor among Neonate Delivered at Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC), Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, South–Western Ethiopia Sheka Shemsi Seid*, Adugna Dinsa School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health science, Institute of health, Jimma University, Ethiopia 1. INTRODUCTION Birth weight is the first weight of the new born obtained immediately after birth. For live birth it should be measured with in the first hour of life before significant post-natal weight loss occurred (1). Birth weight is classified as macrosomia, normal birth weight and low birth weight (LBW) has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as weight less than 2500 gram regardless of gestational age. This also further categorized into very low birth weight (VLBW), an infant birth weight less than 1500 g and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) is an infant weight less than 1000 g at birth regardless gestational age. The practical cut off international comparison is based on epidemiologic observation that infant weight less than 2500 gram is associated with high neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality of the estimated 4 million neonatal deaths. Preterm and LBW babies represent more than a fifth. Those who survive could have impaired immune function and increased risk of disease and are likely to remain malnourished (2, 1 and 3). LBW children are also prone to have lower IQ and cognitive disabilities which affect their performance in school, job opportunities as adults and may develop chronic illness like diabetes and coronary heart disease in adult hood (1-2, 4-5) Abstract Background: Birth weight is sensitive indicator for predicting the chances for both infant survival and healthy child growth and development. LBW continues to remain major public health problem related to poverty, social factors such as lower status of women, malnutrition and lack of ANC. Objective: To assess the prevalence of Low Birth Weight and associated factor, among the neonates born in Jimma university medical center from May 1, 2015 GC. to April 30,2017 E.C. Methods: An institutional based retrospective cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on birth weight distribution. Data was collected by using structured data collection format from delivery registration book of obstetrics department and analysis was performed manually. Finally all the study result was presented by using tables, frequency, percentage, x 2 -test was employed to asses for association between variables. Result: A total of 3546 singleton live- birth were observed among which 54% were male and 46% were female. The overall mean birth weight was 3200gm and the over prevalence of LBW was 6.7% statically the analysis showed that significant (p<0.05) independent effect on ANC follow up , gestational age, parity, sex of new born and maternal age during the last pregnancy while maternal residence, and seasons of delivery were not significantly related to low birth weight( p>0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of low birth weight in the study area was relatively lower than that of national figure. This is probably due to the improved health service delivery system as well as increased awareness of the community towards health service utilization. However this figure should not neglected as it is strong indicators of the health status of the community. There for the research still recommend expansion of ANC and health education particularly to reproductive age group to have awareness on maternal health care appropriate record keeping system and doing further studies on related issues. Keywords: birth weight, neonate, associated factor, Jimma, Ethiopia *Corresponding Author: Sheka Shemsi Seid, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health science, Institute of health, Jimma University, Ethiopia. Email: shekaaa2006@gmail.com