Clinical and Statistical Observation for Low Birth Weight Infants

ABSTRACT

We made clinical and statistical observation of low birth weight infants who were delivered at Keimyung University hospital during the 2 years and 4 months period from March, 1979 through July, 1981. The results obtained were as follows 1) The sex ratio for live birth infants, male to female, was 1.281, and low-birth-weight infants was 0.961. The incidence of low birth weight infants was 66.5 per 1,000 live births. 2) The etiology of low-birth-weight infants, in order of frequency was 1st, multiple pregncy, 2nd , permature ruptupe of membrane, 3rd, toxemia, 4th malposition of fotus and 5th , plaoente previa and abruptio placents. 3) The mortality rate for low-birth-weight infants was 123.5/1,000 low-birth-weight infants. 4) Premature percentage of low-birth-weight infants was 61.7%. 5) A sharp decrease in mortality rate was observed when infants weight over 1,750 grams at birth, and over 35 weeks gestation period. Therefore delayed delivery was recommendec. 6) Of all deaths of low-birth-weight infants in the nuracry, 85.9% died within 24 hours of birth, and 82.9% within 48 hours of birth. 7) There was no difference between male and female infants regarding mean helight, mean head circumference and mena chest cincumference according to weight.