Low birth weight deliveries at the Nyanza General Hospital Kisumu, Kenya

The results of a four month descriptive study on low Birth weight (LBW) deliveries in Nyanza Provincial General Hospital, Kisumu from 15th March to 30th July 1987 are presented. The incidence of LBW was 15.0%. Premature labour accounted for 55.3% while term small for gestational age contributes 44.7% of all LBW babies. 4.8% of the mothers of LBW babies were teenagers. The mean gravidity of the mother's was 2.5 with 46.8% being primigravidae. Of the multiparae who delivered LBW babies: 26.6%, 25%, 12.9% and 12.1% gave history of previous abortion, premature delivery, neonatal death and stillbirth respectively. The most common antenatal complications associated with LBW delivery were pyrexia (20.2%), premature rupture of membranes before term (16.7%) and multiple pregnancy (14.6%). 82.4% of LBW deliveries were spontaneous vertex delivery, 12.5% vaginal breech delivery and 2.9% caesarean section. The worst perinatal outcome was associated with caesarean section while spontaneous vertex delivery had the best outcome. Other factors associated with good perinatal outcome were increasing birth weight; first stage of labour lasting less than 18 hours and small for gestational age babies.