title: Incidence and outcome of small for gestational age foetuses: an experience from a secondary care hospital.
abstract: The objective of the study was to determine the frequency and outcome of Small for Gestational Age (SGA) foetuses, and its association with the mode of delivery, foetal birthweight, maternal age and gestational age. It was a hospital-based descriptive study, conducted at Aga Khan Hospital for Women, Karachi, from January 2009 to December 2010. Mode of deliveries, foetal birthweight, maternal age and gestational age of SGA foetuses were recorded and analszed. Of a total of 6024 deliveries during the study period, 722 (11.98%) had SGA foetuses. Maternal age in such cased ranged between 20-40 years in 588 (81.44%), while 406 (56.23%) of these deliveries were in between 34-37 weeks of gestation. Besides, 396 (54.84%) cases were delivered vaginally. The incidence of SGA increased from 2009 to 2010 (13.13% vs 10.76%). The frequency of SGA foetuses tends to be significantly higher in Pakistan compared to the Western world. Prenatal care and better management can potentially avoid the occurrence of SGA deliveries, perinatal morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynae, Aga Khan Hospital for Woman, Karimabad.
authors.forename: Riffat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bano
authors.affiliation: Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Ammara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mushtaq
authors.affiliation: New England Eye Center, Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Mehreen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynae, Aga Khan Hospital for Woman, Karimabad.
authors.forename: Nousheen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asim
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Aga Khan Hospital for Woman, Karimabad.
authors.forename: Noureen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Afzal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D010154:Pakistan; D063127:Secondary Health Care; D055815:Young Adult