title: A retrospective review of birth outcomes at the Mother and Child Health Hospital in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 2004-2013.
abstract: The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is a lower-middle income country making steady progress improving maternal and child health outcomes. We sought to ascertain if there have been improvements in three specific birth outcomes (low birth weight, preterm birth and small for gestational age) over the last decade.
  
  
  
  We retrospectively reviewed birth records between 2004 and 2013 at the Mother and Child Health (MCH) hospital in Vientiane. We defined preterm birth as gestation <37 weeks and low birth weight as <2,500 g. We calculated small for gestational age (SGA). We describe birth outcomes over time and compare proportions using Chi square.
  
  
  
  Between 2004 and 2013, the annual average number of newborns delivered each year was 4,322 and the frequency of low birth weight ranged from 9.5 to 12%, preterm births from 6.3 to 10%, and infants born SGA from 25 to 35%. There were no improvements in these frequencies over time. Women <18 years at delivery had a statistically significantly higher frequency of babies born with a low birth weight (15.3 vs. 10.8%, p < 0.02) or preterm (16.4 vs. 7.8%, p < 0.01) than those aged >18. There was no difference in the frequency of babies born SGA by age (26.8% in women <18 years vs. 29.7% in women >18 years, p = 0.30).
  
  
  
  At the largest maternal and child hospital in Lao PDR, we found a high frequency of poor birth outcomes with no improvements over the last decade.
authors.affiliation: Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. sco2@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Sonja J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Mother and Child Health Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Phommady
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vetsaphong
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Phouvanh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vonglokham
authors.affiliation: Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.affiliation: Influenza Program, CDC, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Viengphone
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Khanthamaly
authors.affiliation: Mother and Child Health Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Touy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chanthalangsy
authors.affiliation: Mother and Child Health Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chittanavanh
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Bounkong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Syhavong
authors.affiliation: Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moen
authors.affiliation: Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bresee
authors.affiliation: Influenza Program, CDC, Vientiane, Lao PDR.|The QED Group, American Embassy, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corwin
authors.affiliation: Mother and Child Health Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Anonh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xeuatvongsa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007812:Laos / Q000453:epidemiology; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Lao PDR; Low birth weight; Pregnancy outcome; Preterm birth; Small for gestational age