Birth weight gestational age correlates of neonatal mortality.

Abstract

Two hundred and fifty five neonatal deaths out of 6,222 live born babies born at All-India Institute of Medical Sciences hospital during a period of 4 years were analysed for their birth weight and gestational age. The neonatal mortality data by birth weight and gestational age parameters is presented in a variety of ways to indicate their usefulness in everyday practice. The overall neonatal mortality rate was 4.1 per cent. Preterm and low birth weight babies accounted for 66.6 per cent and 75.2 per cent of total deaths respectively. Although neonatal mortality rate is reduced with higher birth weight and longer gestational age, the gestational maturity influences the survival of infants irrespective of other factors. The significance and utility of the data when expressed in large and small weightgestational age groupings and their routine use in evaluating an individual pregnancy outcome or assessing an individual newborn infant is discussed.