LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES BORN AT LIAQUAT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HYDERABAD

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of low birth weight babies born at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad PATIENTS AND METHODS: This Descriptive study (case series) of six months was conducted at Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics and Neonatal unit of pediatric department LUH Hyderabad. The low birth weight was defined as less than 2500 g. In this study, 1511 babies were born during study period and 565 (37.4%) of them were LBW. Out of these 565 LBW babies, 237 (41.9%) babies with one or more problems were admitted in neonatal unit at Pediatric department LUH Hyderabad for evaluation of immediate problems and their data was collected on preformed proforma by principal researcher and analyzed using SPSS version-10. RESULTS: Out of total 1511 deliveries at LUH Hyderabad, 565 newborn were LBW giving prevalence of 37.4%. Out of these 565 LBW, male newborn were 55.8% and females were 44.2%, full term LBW were 61.2% while 38.8% were preterm LBW and 67.4% were small for gestational age (SGA) while 32.6% were appropriate for gestational age (AGA). 69.2% had birth weight 2500-1500 g. Babies with birth weight 1499-1000 g and 999-750 g included 27.8% and 3.0% respectively out of these 565 LBW babies. CONCLUSION: Our study showed increased prevalence of low birth weight (37.4%) as compared to general population (25.0%). low birth weight was common in males and majority of LBW infants were SGA and full-term. Key Words: Low birth weight, Small for gestational age, Appropriate for gestational age