Nutrition
Low birth weight in Ghana: Why too many babies are starting life at a disadvantage
Every baby deserves a healthy start. But in Ghana, too many children are being born already behind, too small, too fragile, and at far greater risk than their peers. Low birth weight, defined as weighing less than 2.5 kilograms at birth, affects an estimated one in seven newborns in this country.
That is a significant proportion of children beginning life at a disadvantage, often due to preventable causes.
Children born with low birth weight face a steeply uphill journey from their very first breath. They are more susceptible to birth asphyxia, infections, hypothermia, and respiratory complications.
They are more likely to die in their first month of life. Those who survive face higher risks of stunting, impaired cognitive development, and a greater likelihood of developing non-communicable diseases including type two diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease later in life.
Low birth weight does not just harm the child today. It shapes their health for decades.
The most powerful determinant of a baby’s birth weight is what the mother eats, and how healthy she is before and during pregnancy. Research in Ghana has consistently shown that maternal anaemia, poor dietary diversity, and inadequate antenatal care are all strongly linked to low birth weight.
A study in Cape Coast found that mothers with low dietary diversity during pregnancy were significantly more likely to deliver low birth weight babies. In Northern Ghana, maternal anaemia in both the first and third trimesters of pregnancy increased the risk of low birth weight. What a woman eats is what her baby weighs.
Education matters too. Mothers with secondary or higher education have been found to be less likely to deliver a low-birth-weight baby, a difference attributed to better nutrition knowledge, improved antenatal care attendance, and healthier health-seeking behaviour overall.
This points clearly to the need for a whole-of-society response, not just a clinical one.
Ghana has made some progress on low birth weight, but the burden remains unacceptably high and in some parts of the country, it is worsening. Other important risk factors must not be overlooked.
Adolescent pregnancy, which remains prevalent in several regions, is strongly associated with low birth weight because young mothers are often still growing and competing with the fetus for nutrients.
Malaria infection during pregnancy, particularly in endemic areas of Ghana, damages the placenta and restricts nutrient transfer, further increasing the likelihood of a low-birth-weight baby.
These risk factors compound the effects of poor maternal nutrition and limited antenatal care. Leaders in government, health facilities, and communities must prioritise maternal nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy.
Reducing low birth weight is not complicated. It requires feeding mothers well, supporting them through antenatal care, ensuring access to iron-folic acid supplementation and malaria prevention during pregnancy, and treating their health as a national priority, not an afterthought.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition project
Mother’s Day is a celebration to honour mothers and individuals in the society. To commemorate the day tomorrow, The Spectator nutritional page today offers to prepare a sumptuous Guinea fowl meal with an accompanying snack to celebrate our mothers.
Ingredients
-2 cups of cooked rice
-Oil
-2 pounds of Guinea fowl
-1/2 tablespoonful of grinded ginger
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/2 onion
1 cup frozen peas
-3 large carrots
-3 eggs
-3 tablespoonful of soy sauce
-2 tablespoonful of diced green onions
Preparation
-Cut guinea fowl into bite-sized pieces. Add ginger, salt, and garlic and allow it cook for about 2 minutes.
-Fry guinea fowl until it turns golden brown.
-Put a saucepan of fire and add a tablespoonful of oil.
-Stir in diced onion, garlic, and peas and carrots and other vegetables.
-Add rice and stir to coat. Stir occasionally until rice is warmed through.
-Add soy sauce to the rice and stir well
-Remove from heat and serve.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
The familiar curl of smoke from a mosquito coil may seem like a small comfort against buzzing pests, but behind that comfort lies a hidden danger.
According to Dr Lawrencia Osae-Nyarko of the Public Health Research Unit at CSIR-WRI, the smoke carries synthetic chemicals that once inhaled, can irritate lungs, trigger adverse reactions, and silently worsen the health of vulnerable groups-children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Her remarks framed discussions at the second stakeholder meeting of the Clean Air Fund (CAF) project, spearheaded by the Presbyterian Relief Services and Development (PRESED) in collaboration with CAF, on Tuesday.
The gathering assembled community leaders, facilitators, and experts to review recent data collection and chart a way forward in tackling air pollution and e-waste challenges.
According to Dr Osae-Nyarko, the smoke from the mosquito coils and other material burn to ward of mosquito or other insects rather exposes users to a number of dangerous substances that slowly create problems.
“In Ghana’s urban slums, where cramped living spaces often lack proper ventilation, the risks are magnified,” she warned.
“What people breathe in daily is not just mosquito coil smoke; it is a cocktail of pollutants from waste burning, traffic fumes, and household emissions. These exposures compound vulnerabilities and deepen health injustices,” she added.
Dr Osae-Nyarko, also an Advisory Member of PRESED, stressed that advocacy must highlight the disproportionate impact of pollution on marginalised groups.
She underscored the importance of involving children early: “When children learn about air pollution, they not only protect themselves but also become powerful messengers. Through artwork and storytelling, they can express the dangers and inspire change.”
International studies echo these concerns. Research in China and Malaysia found that burning a single mosquito coil indoors can release fine particulate matter equivalent to 75–137 cigarettes, along with carcinogens such as formaldehyde and bis (chloromethyl)ether (BCME)—both linked to lung cancer.
One study published in Environmental Health Perspectives reported that formaldehyde emissions from a single coil equaled those from 51 cigarettes, while the particulate matter load was comparable to heavy indoor smoking.
For children, pregnant women, and the elderly, these exposures are especially severe. Frequent use in poorly ventilated homes magnifies the danger, leading to respiratory irritation, asthma flare-ups, and long-term cancer risks.
The meeting agenda included an overview of the data collection process, key findings, and the formation of action groups to champion specific objectives. A newly developed training manual will guide facilitators and community members in communicating both the science and the lived realities of pollution.
Her advice was practical yet urgent: “If mosquito coils must be used, ensure proper ventilation. But more importantly, communities need safer alternatives and collective advocacy to demand cleaner air. This is not just about comfort—it is about survival.”
The call to action extended beyond households. Mr Emmanuel Nyarko Ankama, Coordinator for PRESED, urged Assemblies to enforce the registration of waste collectors, especially operators of ‘Aboboya’ tricycles.
“The fact is they can dump waste anywhere, which ends up being burnt and contributes to air pollution,” he cautioned.
Mr Joseph Oberesekun Kiddy-Kodua, Environmental Officer at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), reinforced the point: “By Ghana’s waste management policy, every waste collection company should be registered by the Assembly. Otherwise, it is an illegal activity.”
“As the project advances, the message is clear: everyday practices—from burning coils to disposing of waste—must be re-examined. With children, elders, and mothers at the heart of the struggle, the fight for clean air is as much about justice as it is about health,” noted Mr Ankama.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
