The incidence, sociobiological factors and obstetric complications associated with large infants at Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the incidence, sociobiological factors and obstetric complications related to the deliveries of 351 large infants, weighing 4000 g and above, and compared them to the findings among controls, comprising of 6563 full-size term infants; all deliveries took place at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, June-December, 1983. Large infants constituted 4.7% of singleton deliveries and the male/female ratio among large infants was significantly higher than among controls. Significant associations were found in the occurrence of large infants with increasing age, parity and weight, but not with height. Large infants occurred more frequently among the high social class women who could pay for health services. Rate of cesarean section and postpartum hemorrhage increased four-fold with deliveries of large infants. Shoulder dystocia complicated six deliveries resulting in four stillbirths and two cases of Erb's palsy. It is advocated that prenatal screening for gestational diabetes be performed on mothers with advanced maternal age, high parity, overweight and particularly of high social class.