Birthweight distribution at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the birthweight distribution of singleton births at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and to determine if selected socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics that are known to be associated with birthweight would show the association in our setting.

DESIGN

A non-randomised cross-sectional survey of all deliveries within the study period.

SETTING

Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, a tertiary institution, delivering about 11,000 women a year.

STUDY POPULATION: From 1st November to 12th December 1994, 866 singleton normally formed livebirths and fresh stillbirths were sequentially enrolled.

DATA SOURCES: Data sources were the antenatal and delivery records of the subjects and an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS

The mean birthweight for the total sample was 3070 g +/- 616 g. One hundred and fifteen (13.3%) babies were low birthweight. The mean birthweight for those with reliable dates and born at term was 3262 g +/- 488.8 g. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed lack of antenatal malaria chemoprophylaxis and a history of previous low birthweight to be significantly associated with low birthweight.

CONCLUSION

Although the mean birthweight of Korle-Bu babies was lower than those of USA and UK babies, it was comparable with those from other developing countries. Antenatal malaria chemoprophylaxis is a practical intervention that can produce an increase in mean birthweight and reduce the risk of low birthweight in our population.