Comparative outcome of low birth weight babies
Das, B.K.; Mishra, R.N.; Mishra, O.P.; Bhargava, V.; Prakash, A.
Indian Pediatrics 30(1): 15-21
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 8406701 Document Number: 412051
Between February 1985 and January 1986 in India, pediatricians compared outcomes of 156 low birth weight (LBW) infants (1500-2000 g) with those of 103 full term-appropriate for gestational age (FT-AGA) infants. They followed up on the infants at 15 days, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months. The LBW infants consisted of 55 full term-intrauterine growth retardation (FT-IUGR) infants and 101 premature infants. Both sets of infants were born at Banaras Hindu University Hospital and Ishwari Memorial District Hospital both in Varanasi and in 10 villages of Cholapur Block in Varanasi. The village mothers were trained in neonatal care, which included general cleanliness, hand washing, adequate baby clothing, maintenance of body temperature, and cord care with spirits and triple dye. The birth weight and gestational age of LBW infants from the 3 centers were similar. The neonatal mortality rate was essentially the same for LBW infants in all 3 groups (e.g., 21% for the university hospital, 18% for the district hospital, and 18% for the villages). The neonatal mortality rate for LBW infants was significantly higher than that of FT-AGA infants (p .01 for university hospital, p .05 for district hospital, and p .05 for villages). The death rate due to infection was similar for all 3 groups (58%, 55%, and 66%, respectively). Diarrhea and upper respiratory infection were common causes of morbidity. Diarrhea and upper respiratory infection occurred more often in FT-IUGR infants and premature infants than in FT-AGA infants. The differences tended to be significant only between premature infants and FT-AGA infants, however.. The LBW infants born in the villages gained weight at a similar rate as those born in the university and district hospitals. These findings suggest that adequate care includes health and nutrition education, follow-up, and parental participation of infant's health care.