Incidence, Mortality Pattern, and Outcome of Low Birth Weight Babies Admitted in a Rural Tertiary Care Center: A Retrospective Study

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the incidence, Mortality pattern, and outcome of low birth weight (LBW) babies in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital, Trichirapalli for 1 year January 2015 to December 2015. Materials and Methods: All newborn babies weighing <2500 g delivered and admitted to neonatal intensive care unit at MGM Government Hospital, Trichirapalli and outborn babies weighing <2500 g who were referred to our hospital were included in the study. The incidence, mortality, and outcome of these inborn and outborn babies were analyzed separately since there is difference in antenatal care and mortality in the two groups of babies. The delayed referral of outborn babies also necessitates our team to study their profile separately. The statistical test used are percentages and proportions. Results: Out of 3582 babies <2500 g (2171 inborn, 1411 outborn), incidence of LBW was 44%. Incidence of prematurity was 29% (34-37 weeks) and 26.5% (<34 weeks). The majority of baby's duration of stay was 4-7 days. Morbidity profile shows 43% with birth asphyxia, 41% for prematurity and its complications, 34% with respiratory distress syndrome. Out of 3582 babies admitted, the outcome of babies showed 89% (3216) of babies were discharged well and 6.72% (241) babies died in a period of 1-year. Conclusion: Timely intervention, better awareness and interaction with obstetricians, timely resuscitation by trained personnel, adequate manpower, use of antenatal steroids, surfactant, continuous positive airway pressure ventilation, and close monitoring of LBW babies results in better outcome.