Trends in incidence of delivery of low birth weight infants in Benin City, southern Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the incidence of low birth weight deliveries in a Nigerian mission hospital.

Methods: A descriptive analysis of the records of 332 live, low birth weight babies delivered between 1st January, 1999 to 31st December, 2001 in a Nigerian mission hospital in Benin City was carried out. A standardised questionnaire was used and the mothers of low birth weight (LBW) babies were interviewed soon after delivery.

Results: The overall incidence of LBW was 8.1% with a female preponderance. Of the 332 LBW babies, 3.9% were extremely LBW, 12.0% very LBW, 20.5% moderately LBW while 36.4% of the babies weighed less than 2000 g. Preterm babies were significantly more frequent than term small-for-gestational age babies. A lower incidence was found in the year 2001 compared with the immediate preceding two years. A significantly greater number of LBW babies were born during the dry season compared with the wet season. The leading maternal factor associated with delivery of LBW infants was absent or inadequate antenatal care.

Conclusion: Using the World Health Organisation definition of low birth weight of < 2500 g, a lower incidence of LBW was found compared with other studies that defined LBW as birth weight < 2500 g.