Morbidity pattern of low-birth-weight infants in an urban slum of Kolkata, India.

BACKGROUND

Low birth weight (birth weight<2500 g) is one of the major determinants of neonatal morbidity as well as mortality and these are known to be significantly higher in these infants.

OBJECTIVE

To study the morbidity pattern of low-birth-weight (LBW) infants in an urban slum in Kolkata, India.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A follow-up community-based study was undertaken in 2004-2005 in an urban slum of Chetla (Kolkata, West Bengal, India), among 126 singleton live-born babies, who were followed up for 9 months at 15±5 days interval by home visits.

RESULTS

Incidence of LBW was 28.6%. Morbidity episodes and hospitalization rate were more in LBW than in normal-birth-weight infants. Overall, gastrointestinal infection and acute respiratory infection were predominant in both LBW and normal-birth-weight babies.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Although morbidity episodes as well as hospitalization rate were lower compared with other studied slums of India, there is still room for further improvement of health status of these babies. Adequate care, exclusive breast-feeding, and proper nutrition of the LBW infants must be ensured to have healthy lifestyle free from morbidity.