Morbidity and Mortality Profile among Low Birth Weight Neonates- A Cross-sectional Study from Jalandhar, India

Introduction: World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined Low Birth Weight (LBW) as weight at birth of fewer than 2,500 grams in the first hour of delivery. This practical cut-off for international comparison is based on epidemiological observations that infants weighing less than 2,500 gm are approximately 20 times more likely to die than babies with a normal birth weight. LBW is closely associated with neonatal and infant mortality and morbidity and stifled growth and cognitive development of children. Aim: To know the aetiological profile and outcome of admitted Low birth weight babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Materials and Methods: The present study was hospital based retrospective study conducted on 610 neonates admitted in NICU at a teaching hospital, Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, from January 2019 to December 2019. Neonate with birth weight less than 2500 gm and less than 28 days old were included in the study. The total subjects were divided into three groups- Group 1: Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) <1000 gm; Group 2: Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW): 1000- <1500 gm; Group 3: Low Birth Weight (LBW): 1500-<2500 gm. All the babies were investigated and managed as per standard hospital protocol. Data recorded were: demographic profile, aetiology, morbidity and mortality among LBW babies. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS) version 21.0 using standard statistical tests. Results: Total number of LBW babies registered in the study was 610. Among them, weight of 72 (11.8%) of neonates were <1000 g (Group 1), 208 (34.1%) were weighed 1000-<1500 g (Group 2) and 330 (54.1%) were weighed between 1500-<2500 g (Group 3). The mortality rate was 3.77%. The major causes of admission observed in neonates were sepsis (45.2%), hyperbilirubinemia (29.5%), apnoea (24.2%), hypoglycaemia (21.9%) and respiratory distress (17.2%). Highest mortality was observed amongst cases with Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) (p<0.01). Two neonates out of total subjects 19 (3.1%) diagnosed with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) succumbed to death, both belonging to group 1. Conclusion: The leading cause of morbidity and mortality in LBW babies were sepsis and Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) so we need to address this problem more effectively.