Antenatal care and fetal outcome, especially low birthweight, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

A total of 820 singleton babies and 73 babies from multiple births were studied, all born in a 7-month period in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. At birth, 8.9% of the singleton babies and 70% of those of multiple birth weighed less than 2500 g. Maternal factors significantly associated with increased incidence of low birthweight were antepartum haemorrhage, short stature, age and parity. However, the effects of these were nullified by antenatal care. Amongst the babies, the major contributory factor was intrauterine growth retardation, the cause of which in most cases was not apparent and was not affected by antenatal care. We suggest that a lot more attention be focussed on this category of low-birthweight babies.