Low birthweight newborns in Vanuatu: A longitudinal follow-up study

Medical care and technology have increased the survival of low birthweight babies (LBW), but especially in low- and middle-income settings the longer term thriving of such babies is not assured because of their fragility, limited services and difficult access after discharge from hospital. In Vanuatu, a Pacific nation of dispersed islands, improving LBW outcomes and survival remains a significant challenge. In this study, we prospectively document the survival, developmental and nutritional outcomes of a cohort of LBW over the first year of life. We also explored the mother's experiences of caring for an LBW baby in hospital and at home.

A prospective descriptive cohort study of 49 newborns weighing less than 2.5 kg, born between April and August 2019. Data were recorded on their hospital stay, and they were followed up at 6 and 12 months post-discharge and outcomes recorded. Developmental milestones were assessed using the Denver Developmental Screening Test, using milestones appropriate for corrected age. Qualitative interviews were conducted to identify experiences and challenges the mothers faced in caring for their LBW baby.

The mean birthweight was 1800 g at 35 weeks gestation (between 2nd and 9th centile). At 6 months of age the median weight was 6.5 kg (9th centile) and at 12 months it was 7.8 kg (9th centile). Three infants died in the first 6 months post-discharge. By 12 months of age, the proportion of infants who had achieved milestones of social and emotional (90%), language and communication (97%), cognition (85%) and motor (69%) development. One had evidence of retinopathy, and 19 had clinical anaemia. Mothers identified several stressors that they attributed as risk factors for premature delivery and outlined the difficulties and isolation of caring for an LBW baby.

It is vital that all LBW babies are followed up in the years after discharge: nutritional, developmental and general health outcomes were generally good; however, post-discharge deaths are more common in this group than in the general population. Equally important is the support for mothers of LBW babies to achieve better outcomes.