Study of morbidity and mortality profile among low birth weight neonates in sick newborn care unit of a rural medical college and hospital.

Study of morbidity and mortality pro le among low birth weight neonates in sick newborn care unit of a rural medical college and hospital. Bandyopadhyay S.1*, Charan Pal A.2, Chakraborti S.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17511/ijpr.2020.i06.07 1* Sudipta Bandyopadhyay, Senior Resident and former Post Graduate Trainee, Department of Pediatric Medicine, B.S. Medical College, Bankura, West Bengal, India. 2 Abhay Charan Pal, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Medicine, B.S. Medical College, Bankura, West Bengal, India. 3 Snehansu Chakraborti, Professor, Department of Pediatric Medicine, B.S. Medical College, Bankura, West Bengal, India.


BW (LBW) has been defined by the World Health
Organization (WHO) as weight at birth of fewer than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds) in the first hour of delivery [1]. This practical cut-off for international comparison is based on epidemiological observations that infants weighing less than 2,500 gm are approximately 20 times more likely to die than heavier babies. A birthweight below 2,500 gm contributes to a range of poor health outcomes which is more common in developing than Low birth weight (LBW) related to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is known to carry high morbidity and mortality, especially at term. In developing countries, it has been suggested that a substantial number of LBW infants also have IUGR.

Bandyopadhyay S. et al: Study of morbidity and mortality profile among low birth
Birth Weight less than 2500 g.
The infant was less than 28 days.
Parents/guardians had given written consent.
Birth weight more than 2500 g.
Birth weight less than 500g.
An infant for more than 28 days.
Parents did not give written consent.

NEC:
In this study, NEC was more common between 500-1500gm weighing babies. A similar result was obtained by Gregory et al [19].

Conclusion
'Low birth weight babies' remains an important health problem since very old times and poses a major threat to neonatal survival. It is often stated that more the birth weight more developed the nation. Neonatal morbidity and consequent mortality are mostly related to the incidence of low birth weight neonates.' Low birth weight babies' imposes a serious burden to the entire neonatal care service system, needing more hospital stay, management as a whole, and in brief more resource mobilization. In our series mortality among low birth weight babies was high (23.5%). Immediate complications and complications after 6 months follow up were also on the higher side. To reduce the incidence of LBW babies and mortality, the best way is to improve maternal health, nutrition, proper antenatal care. Major morbidity factors were Sepsis, RDS, Birth Asphyxia, and Apnea.
Proper asepsis procedure, judicious use of antibiotics, timely intervention like CPAP, etc. can reduce the mortality profile among LBW infants. The neuro-developmental delay was seen among 20% of babies and poor catch up growth was seen around 31% infants after 6 months of follow up. Proper counseling while discharge regarding feeding, warmth care, asepsis, danger sign and need for Has been reduced significantly; it may give rise to a population of infants and children; and even adults who may have to live with serious handicaps for the rest of their life.
After everything being said and done, low birth weight is better to be prevented than treated. But the fact remains that preventing the occurrence of low birth weight is only feasible by elevation of maternal health care services and that part, surely and scientifically; not to prophesize; can be done by elevating the socio-economic standard of a country.

Author's contributions
Dr. Sudipta Bandyopadhyay performed the entire work. He collected data from all the cases and compiled them. He performed the statistical analysis and drafted final manuscripts.
Dr. Abhay Charan Pal conceived the idea and contemplated the study plan. He revised the manuscripts by adding many intellectual contents.
Dr. Snehansu Chakraborti gave necessary guidance during the study. He also added some intellectual content.