All issues > Volume 29(4); 1986

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1986;29(4):411-419. Published online April 30, 1986.

Clinical and Statistical Observation for Low Birth Weight Infants.

Keum Yang Sohn¹, Chan Gyoo Hwang¹, Ki Bok Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Kwangju Christian Hospital

Abstract

A clinical and statistical observation was made on low-birth-weight (LBW) infants who were delivered at Kwangju Christian Hospital from March 1st, 1983 to June 30, 1984. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The overall incidence of LBW infants among 3,909 babies delivered alive during the period was 8.3%, the sex ratio being 1 : 1.3, male to female 2) The incidence of LBW infants tended to be more prevalent in mothers who were under 20 year old or over 36 year old. The incidence of LBW infants for the maternal age group above 35 year was significantly higher than 26〜30 year group and 31 〜35 year group. 3) The incidence of LBW infants showed a significant correlation with the number of parity. 4) The most prevalent etiologic factor responsible for delivery of LBW infants was the twin-birth, followed by toxemia, PROM, and placenta previa in the decreasing order. 5) The rate of abnormal presentations such as breech presentation, T-lie, and C-section delivery was higher among LBW infants than the overall rates among total live births 6) Mortality rate of LBW infants was 18.7%. Sharp decreases in mortality rate were observed either when infants weighed over 1,750g or the gestational age was over 35 wks., suggesting that delaying the delivery, if possible, beyond 35 wks. is advisable to secure better prognosis for LBW infants. 7) Of all deaths, 70.5% of LBW infants died within 24 hours of birth, with the chance for survival increasing sharply thereafter. 8) Average weight loss of the LBW infants was 25.0 g/day, and the maximum weight loss was found, on the average, 5.3days after birth. Weight gain in these babies averaged 23.7g, not significantly differing from other reports.

Keywords :Low-birth-weight infants