Survival in very low birthweight infants at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital; Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Between January 1984 and December 1987; 1509 singleton neonates were admitted into special care baby unit at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Among them there were extreme low birthweight; very low birthweight and low birthweight and normal birthweight infants. Survival rates in the four categories were 10.3 per cent; 46.5 per cent; 89.2 per cent and 94.7 percent. Furthermore the survivors were significantly more mature for their gestation and lower incidence of birth asphyxia. Therefore each low birthweight has special care