Frequency of Complications in Neonates with Low Birth Weight

Objective: To identify and determine the frequency of complications in neonates with low birth weight.

Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at Khairpur Medical College and Lady Willingdon Hospital, Khairpur Mirs from January 2018 to July 2021. Two hundred (n=200) neonates with low birth weight (<2500 grams) were recruited and frequency of different complications were observed.

Results: The mean age of the neonates was 10.50 ± 4.34 days. Of the 200 neonates with low birth weight, 132 neonates (66%) presented with various complications; however 68 neonates (34%) were normal and without complications. Of the 200 neonates with low birth weight, the following complications were observed, hypoglycaemia (14.5%), jaundice (12.5%), respiratory distress syndrome (8%), feeding problems (8%), congenital cardiac defects (5%), hypothermia (4%), other complications such as sepsis (2%), apnea of prematurity (2%), intraventricular haemorrhage (2%), and more than 1 complications (16 neonates, 8%).

Conclusions: In conclusion, hypoglycaemia and jaundice were the common complications associated with low birth weight in neonates. Advanced maternal age during childbirth, stress, lower socioeconomic conditions, consanguineous marriages, lower body mass index and maternal illness such as preeclampsia and anaemia were the risk factors of low birth weight observed in our study. Risk factors may be identified earlier in order to lessen the morbidities and mortality in low birth weight neonates.