Low birth weight in urban Harare

1. To measure the incidence of low birth weight from all institutional deliveries in a defined catchment area of urban Harare. 2. To estimate the relative proportions of preterm and small for gestational age (SGA).

The study was descriptive and was conducted during the last three months of 1986.

The low risk maternity units in three high density suburbs, Highfield, Glen Norah and Glen View and the referral centre Harare Central Hospital.

All babies born to women residing in the study areas in the maternity clinics and those transferred to the referral hospital were identified and weighed.

For low birthweight babies gestation was estimated by the Dubowitz method and perinatal outcome was recorded.

During the three month study period in 1986, 2,056 babies in total were born; 223 (10.8%) of which were low birthweight. Of these 65 (44%) were preterm and 55 (37%) were SGA.

The findings show a lower percentage of low birthweight and SGA babies than in many developing countries but higher than the norm for developed countries. The study demonstrates a need for resources to prevent low birthweight delivery and improve care for low birthweight babies.