BRIGHT WEIGHT OF TERM, APPROPRIATE OF GESTATIONAL AGE NEONATES IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objectives: A step to provide national standard of birth weight of Pakistani neonates. Design: A Prospective and comparative study.
Setting: This study was conducted at Sheikh Zyed, Fatima Memorial, Ganga Ram Hospitals Lahore and Sandeman Civil Hospital Quetta.
Subject & Methods: 1028 neonates of healthy mothers were weighed. Birth weight was taken with in one hour after birth of naked neonates
by means of Tanita baby weighing scale. Results: The neonates from mothers belonging to good socio economic status and multiparous
mothers were significantly heavier than mothers belonging to poor socioeconomic status and primiparous mothers respectively. Male
neonates were significantly heavier than female babies. No effect of high altitude and consanguinity was noticed on birth weight. Birth weight
of neonates of present study was equal to Indian neonates but lower than those of Chinese and Malayan living in Singapore, but far away
from British Standards. Conclusion: Most of our females are unaware of importance of pregnancy, so there is need for improving maternal
awareness to take balanced diet, adequate rest, specially during third trimester and suitable interval between successive pregnancies
through information campaign by electronic and print media as well as in Maternal and Child Health centers.