Birth Weight and Late Neonatal Mortality & Morbidityin Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Low Birth Weight is probably the single most risk factor that contributes to a range of poor health outcomes. Objective:  To evaluate the impacts  of different grades of birth weight on late neonatal morbidity and mortality. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted among the singleton full-term normal newborns delivered in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Initially seven hundred and seventy newborns were  selected within 1 hour after birth for this study by stratified sampling from three birthweight strata (≤2,  >2 to <2.5 and ≥ 2.5 kg) to ensure the proper representation of each stratum on the basis of their proportions7 in Rajshahi district.Out of 770 neonates, 17 neonates were drop out and 7 neonates were died during their early neonatal period. So the sample size of the study was 746 of this follow up study during late neonatal period. Data were collected by a pretested structured questionnaire at the end of 1st and 4th week by hospital or domiciliary follow-up. One-way ANOVA test and multiple linear regression analyses were applied to find the association of different grades of birth weight with incidence of morbidities. Results: Out of 746 neonates, total 3 neonates were died during late neonatal period, all were due to respiratory infection. Total spells of morbidity during follow up period was 243. Incidence of acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) was the highest,177(72.84%) during that period.The mean episode of ARI of the neonates having birth weight ≤2 kg was statistically significant than that of the other groups of birth weight. But the mean episode of ARI of the neonates having birth weight > 2 to < 2.5 kg and ≤2.5 kg were not significantly different. Conclusion: Having birth weight ≤2 kg is a sensitive and effective predictor for identifying the high-risk baby in late neonatal period. Pediatricians in Bangladesh should take into special care nurseries, babies with a birth weight of 2kg or less.