Incidence of low birthweight among Eastern Nigerians.

Abstract

In order to determine the incidence of low birthweight (defined as a birthweight of 2500 gm or less) in Eastern Nigeria a study was undertaken over a 5-year period from January 1974 to December 1978. Data was collected at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) at Enugu. The UNTH serves a large catchment area encompassing most of the Eastern States of Nigeria. 2 similar studies were conducted each over a 2-year period at another urban hospital and a rural hospital. Results yielded an incidence of low birthweight of 4.45% and 4.85% for male and female infants respectively at the 2 urban hospitals. The corresponding figures for the rural population are 7.76% and 9.34% respectively. Statistically there is no significance in the differences in low birthweight between male and female in the urban hospitals; in the case of rural births this difference is significant. The average incidence of low birthweight of 3.87% 5.43% and 8.55% at the 2 urban hospitals and 1 rural hospital respectively compares favorably with that reported from more developed countries but represents a large difference from those reported for a comparable population in Western Nigeria. The reasons for this are not completely clear but it is possible that differences in the nutritional habits of the 2 ethnic groups comprising these different regions may be at least partly responsible.