Mortality patterns in low birth weight babies in ICDS urban slum area

There were 920 live-births over the period of one year in urban slums (covering 40 anganwadi centres) of Gorakhpur city. Incidence of low birth weight (LBW) babies weighing 2.5 kg or less and those weighing 2 kg or less were 40.7% (19.8% preterm LBW and 80.2% term LBW) and 24% (25.3% preterm LBW and 74.7% term LBW) respectively. Incidence of preterm babies was 8.5%. Infections and respiratory distress were found to be the major killers of LBW babies. The neonatal mortality rate was observed to be significantly high in LBW and preterm babies. Again, babies weighing 2 kg or less and preterm were at greater risk and should be referred to specialised neonatal centres while those weighing 2.001-2.5 kg could be looked after at home by trained personnel in domiciliary newborn care.