title: Low birthweight and perinatal mortality in Lagos.
abstract: A detailed retrospective analysis was made of the records of 693 singleton low birthweight babies who accounted for 5.2% of all births during 1973-77.  The corrected perinatal mortality (PNM) in low birthweight was 339/1000 total singleton births, 43.5% of all perinatal deaths.  The clinical cause of LBW was unknown in 66% of the cases.  60.5% of the LBW babies were premature while 39.5% were intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) babies.  The corrected PNM in the IUGR group was 62/1000 while in the preterm group, it was 520/1000.  1/2 of all preterm deliveries were due to unknown causes.  Antepartum hemorrhage (21.7%) was the main cause of preterm delivery followed by the pregnancy induced hypertension (17.7%).  There were statistically significant differences in the stillbirth rates and early neonatal mortality rates of the premature (unknown cause) and premature (known clinical causes).  Preterm births accounted for 98.6% of the early neonatal deaths in LBW.  Survival rates were poorest in premature breech deliveries.
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000354:Africa, Western; D001695:Biology; D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D009026:Mortality; D009549:Nigeria; D010827:Physiology; D011153:Population; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012098:Reproduction; D012106:Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Africa; Africa South Of The Sahara; Biology; Birth Weight; Body Weight; Delivery; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; English Speaking Africa; Infant Mortality; Low Birth Weight; Mortality; Nigeria; Physiology; Population; Population Dynamics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcomes; Reproduction; Research Methodology; Retrospective Studies; Studies; Western Africa