How should very low birthweight babies best be managed in Papua New Guinea?
Short-term outcome in very low birthweight babies has never been closely examined in Papua New Guinea. A cohort of neonates born over a year at Port Moresby General Hospital was followed from birth to death or discharge. Intrauterine growth retardation was an important contributor to low birthweight. Simple, inexpensive care resulted in respectable survival figures. Improving antenatal surveillance will have much more impact in reducing mortality in this group in the future than trying to emulate sophisticated and costly western neonatal care.
Brown
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Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000150:complications; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development; D007565:Jaundice / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009420:Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010789:Phototherapy; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome