[Analysis of 930 cases of low birth weight newborns]

The birth weight of 13,048 newborns were analyzed. The results showed: (1) The incidences of low birth weight (LBW) and very low birth weight (VLBW) were 60.10% and 11.19% respectively. (2) The perinatal mortality rates (PMR) for birth weight of < 1,500 g, 1,500-2,499 g and > or = 2,500 g were 465.8%, 127.60% and 5.30% respectively, (3) The causes of perinatal death included hypoxia, deformities, neonatal diseases and therapeutic induction of labour (38.80%, 25.86%, 22.84% and 12.50% respectively). The incidence of malformation in < 2,500 g group was 36 times of that in > or = 2,500 g group. (4) The incidence of LBW was significantly related to gestational age (P < 0.01). (5) The incidences of LBW among groups of various maternal age were significantly different, and the best age for childbirth was 25-29. (6) LBW was associated with mother's occupation, and LBW newborns from woman farmers were 5.8 times of those from intellectuals. (7) The PMRs differed significantly among groups of different maternal cultural background (P < 0.01).