dc.contributor.author | Njuki, Hilda W | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-23T13:45:37Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-05-23T13:45:37Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1983 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Masters of Medicine (Paediatrics) | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/11295/24977 | |
dc.description.abstract | A Prospective study on Low Birth Weight babies
was carried out at Machakos Provincial Hospital.
During the four months period of study, a total
of 1433 babies were delivered, out of whom 133
babies weighed 2500 grams and below, giving an
incidence of Low Birth weight of 9.3%. The results
have been compared with findings from other studies
done in Kenya and in other countries. The incidence
of LBW reported in this study is much lower than
is reported in Nairobi and higher than that reported
in the Machakos Field study.
Sixty eight (56.7%) babies were preterm with
low birth weight due to shortened gestation. 40.0%
of the babies were small for gestation age. Factors
that may have contributed to the delivery of low
birth weight babies are discussed. Associated
were maternal factors including the age, parity,
height, marital status, maternal illness and
attendance of the antenatal clinic. The highest
number of LBW babies were delivered to adolescence
mothers. Of the maternal medical diseases, febrile
illness, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, and
antipartum haemorrhage were found to be important
factors in the aetiology of low birth weight.
Multiple pregnancy contributed 77.8% and congenital
malformations contributed 22.8% of low birth
weight due to fetal causes.
The overall incidence of neonatal deaths
in the low birth weight babies in this study were
15.8% being highest in the very low birth weight
babies (100%) and decreased with increasing birth
weight. The major causes of death were hyaline
membrane disease~ intraventricular haemorrhage~
congenital malformations aspiration and immaturity. | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.publisher | University of Nairobi | en |
dc.title | Low birth weight infants at Machakos provincial hospital, Kenya: incidence, aetiology and mortality | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
dc.description.department | a
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, ; bDepartment of Mental Health, School of Medicine,
Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya | |
local.publisher | School of Medicine | en |