Low Birthweight Delivery : Prevalence and Associated Factors as Seen at a Tertiary Health Facility

Background: Low birth weight deliveries are major causes of a huge health burden on poor economies around the globe. It is even more worrisome in developing countries. Materials and Methods: The obstetric records of all low birth weight (LBW) deliveries were reviewed from 1 st June 2005 to 30 th May 2009. Results: The prevalence of LBW deliveries was 8.3. Of the LBW babies; 68.4 were preterm; 53.6 were small for gestational age (SGA) and 12.6 were products of multiple gestations. Predominant factors associated with LBW delivery included nulliparity; low parities (1 and 2); parturient aged 25-35 years (80.6); hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; and short birth spacing (84.4). Conclusion: Most LBW babies were preterm delivered by low parity parturient aged 25-35 years with short inter-pregnancy intervals. Effective family planning and antenatal services provided particularly for these categories of potential parturient could help to curb the incidence

A Pilot Study of the Normal Sonographic Measurements of the Liver in Normal Pregnant Women in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital; South South Nigeria

Background: The liver is affected by the various processes that occur during pregnancy. Ultrasound assessment of the intra abdominal organs during pregnancy is done on a daily basis. We want to determine the normal length of the liver by ultrasound scan in normal pregnant women in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital thus establishing normal and reference values and also to study the effect if any of the gestational age; parity and body mass index on the liver size. Materials And Methods: One hundred and fifty normal pregnant women were evaluated. The dimensions of the liver were measured in the midclavicular line. Other parameters such as the gestational age; parity and body mass index were obtained and a test of variance carried out. Results: The average longitudinal diameter of the liver (midclavicular line) was 14.21+1.82cm (median; 14.2 cm; range; 8.0-18.9 cm). Results of the multivariate analysis showed a positive correlation between the liver length and body mass index but not with the parity and gestational age. Conclusion: This study will be of importance in the daily practice in the radiology and other clinical department in the assessment of the liver in pregnant women