Study on prevalence of Term Low birth weight neonates and their outcomes admitted in Government tertiary care hospital of Kanyakumari district.

Abstract

Background:

Low Birth weight is defined by the World Health Organization as weight at birth less than 2500 grams in the first hour of delivery (1). Low birth weight is a valuable indicator of maternal health, nutrition, health care delivery and poverty. Neonates with low birth weight have a >20 times greater risk of dying than neonates with birth weight more than 2500 grams (2). Low birth weight also indicates malnutrition and ill health of the mother. Low birth weight babies are at a higher risk of sepsis, respiratory distress, Hypoglycemia, Hypothermia, HIE, apnea, perinatal asphyxia, PDA, IVH, congenital anomalies and neonatal deaths. 

Methods

It is a cross-sectional observational study of all term neonates with Low birth weight born in Kanyakumari Government medical college from October 1, 2020 to October 31, 2021. The clinical features, duration of hospital stay and outcomes of these neonates was analyzed.

Results:

A total of 125 children was analyzed. Results of the study showed that the prevalence of term LBW neonates was 3.4%. Majority of mothers between age group 21-30 years (77.2%) belonging to low middle socio-economic status (41.5%) delivered LBW neonates. Mean number of AN visits was 4. 85.4% mothers consumed IFA supplements. Post-natal complications include respiratory distress (28.5%), NNH (25.2%), IUGR (24.4%), sepsis (14.6%), Asphyxia (4.1%) followed by congenital anomalies (3.3%). Term LBW neonates had a mortality of 1.6%. The mean duration of hospital stay was 4 days.

Conclusion:

Low birth weight neonates are responsible for the majority of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The mortality rate among term low birth weight babies was minimal (1.6%) in our study. Morbidity, on the other hand, was on the high side. The best way to minimize the incidence of LBW newborn is prevention by improving maternal health than treatment.