The low birth weight infant in the Ethio-Swedish Children's Hospital, Addis Ababa
Worku, B.
Ethiopian Medical Journal 37(2): 111-119
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-1755 PMID: 11957305 Document Number: 503819
All low birth weight infants admitted to the neonatal unit of the Ethio-Swedish Children's Hospital (ESCH), Addis Ababa from September 1995 to August 1996 were followed until discharge. There were 604 babies with birth weight of less than 2,500 grams and 198 of them died in the hospital making the low birth weight mortality rate of 32.8%. More than 90% of these babies were admitted to the unit with body temperature of less than 36.5 degrees C irrespective of their birth places. Gestational age, birth weight and presence of mother in the neonatal unit had significant role in determining survival of the low birth weight infants. Prematurity related conditions were the most common causes of death followed by infection of the unit. Recommendations are made to improve survival rates of the low birth weight infants in Addis Ababa.