Low birthweight in the plateau region of Nigeria.

A prospective study was conducted over a three-month period; 1st February 1983 to 30th April 1983, to determine the incidence of low birthweight infants and the various factors related to low birthweight, in infants born at the Jos University Teaching Hospital. During the period studied, there were 1,597 deliveries out of which 195 (12.2%) weighed less than 2,500g. They comprised 105 males and 90 female infants. Sixty-one percent of the low birthweight infants were premature and the rest were dysmature. The majority of the infants 189 (96.9%) were born to mothers in the middle and low socio-economic groups. The medical, obstetrical and physical factors responsible for the low birthweight were identified but in 48 patients the factors responsible were not identified. Short-stature was the most prevalent single factor responsible for low birthweight infants. Others were preeclampsia, antepartum haemorrhage and no or inadequate ante-natal care. Multiple pregnancy and malnutrition did not play a significant role in this series. The difference between our low birthweight infants compared with those of advanced countries is believed to be due to the level of Obstetric practice in particular and medical practice in general rather than differences in nutritional status. These results were compared with those from another Nigerian centre as well as results from other countries.