Contribution of prematurity and low birth-weight to neonatal death in Chinese and Western populations.

Abstract

This paper analyses the contribution of low birth-weight (birth-weight between 500 and 2,500 g) and prematurity (gestation less than 37 weeks) to neonatal death in Chinese and Western populations. The incidences of low birth-weight in the Tsan Yuk Hospital, Hong Kong, the State of Victoria, and the Mercy Maternity Hospital, Melbourne, were 4.63%, 4.29% and 5.66% respectively and the incidences of prematurity were 2.08%, 4.89% and 7.42% respectively. The neonatal mortality rate (per 1,000 livebirths) for premature infants born in Victoria was 64, 89 for those born at the Mercy Maternity Hospital and 119 for the Tsan Yuk Hospital. This paper has demonstrated that a striking differences exists in prematurity rates between Chinese and Western populations, and also that the mortality rate of premature infants is lower in Western populations. If the reason for the lower incidence of prematurity in the Chinese population could be determined and the mortality of premature infants maintained in the Western population, a significant lowering of perinatal mortality would result. Studies to determine causes for premature births in Chinese and Western populations should therefore be undertaken.