BIRTHWEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AT KORLE-BU TEACHING HOSPITAL, GHANA
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the birthweight distribution of singleton births at the Korle-Bu
Teaching Hospital and to determine if selected socio-demographic and reproduclive
characteristics that are known to be associated with birthweight would show the association
in our setting.
Design: A non-randomised cross-sectional survey of all deliveries within the study period.
Setting: Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, a tertiary institution, delivering about 11,000 women
a year.
Study population: From 1st November to 12th December 194, 866 singleton normally
formed livebirths and fresh stillbirths were sequentially enrolled.
h sources: Data sources were the antenatal and delivery records of the subjects and an
interviewer-administered questionnaire.
Resuhs: The mean birthweight for the total sample was 3070g _+ 616g. One hundred and
f h n (13.3%) babies were low birthweight. The mean birthweight for those with reliab~le
dates and born at term was 3262g k488.8g. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed lack
of antenatal malaria chemoprophylaxis and a history of previous low birthweight to be
significantly associated with low birthweight.
Conclusion: Although the mean birthweight of Korle-Bu babies was lower than those of USA
and UK babies, it was comparable with those from other developing countries. Antenatal
malaria chemoprophylaxis is a practical intervention that can produce an increase in mean
birthweight and reduce the risk of low birthweight in our population.
Teaching Hospital and to determine if selected socio-demographic and reproduclive
characteristics that are known to be associated with birthweight would show the association
in our setting.
Design: A non-randomised cross-sectional survey of all deliveries within the study period.
Setting: Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, a tertiary institution, delivering about 11,000 women
a year.
Study population: From 1st November to 12th December 194, 866 singleton normally
formed livebirths and fresh stillbirths were sequentially enrolled.
h sources: Data sources were the antenatal and delivery records of the subjects and an
interviewer-administered questionnaire.
Resuhs: The mean birthweight for the total sample was 3070g _+ 616g. One hundred and
f h n (13.3%) babies were low birthweight. The mean birthweight for those with reliab~le
dates and born at term was 3262g k488.8g. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed lack
of antenatal malaria chemoprophylaxis and a history of previous low birthweight to be
significantly associated with low birthweight.
Conclusion: Although the mean birthweight of Korle-Bu babies was lower than those of USA
and UK babies, it was comparable with those from other developing countries. Antenatal
malaria chemoprophylaxis is a practical intervention that can produce an increase in mean
birthweight and reduce the risk of low birthweight in our population.
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