Outcome of low birth weight infants in a West African village

Low birthweight (LBW) infants are at risk of increased mortality, impaired growth, and increased morbidity. We studied the progress of all LBW infants (less than 2.5 kg) born in a West African village where there is a resident pediatrician and midwife. There were 426 live births during the 8 years studied of which 42 (10 per cent) were of LBW. There were 17 infant deaths (IMR = 40/1000). Mean birthweight and gestation of infants dying in the first year were significantly lower than those of all live birth (2.33 kg v. 2.99 kg, P less than 0.001; 36.9 w v. 38.9 w, P less than 0.05). The mean weights of the 32 surviving LBW infants (15 preterm, 17 full term, small for gestational age) were compared with those of 32 full term, appropriate for gestational age matched controls over the first year. Growth velocities of paired groups were identical. The significant differences in weight at 1 year (P less than 0.005) reflected those at birth (P less than 0.001). There were no significant differences in clinic attendance rate or incidence of diarrhoea and respiratory disease between the four groups. We conclude that LBW is a strong risk factor for infant mortality, but not for diarrhoeal and respiratory morbidity in a community with ready access to obstetric and pediatric care.