Work

Care for Low-Birth-Weight Newborns in the Reference Hospitals of the City of Kara in 2023

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Low birth weight is a public health problem due to its prevalence and the resulting neonatal consequences. Objective: Evaluate the management of low birth weights in the three hospital centres in the town of Kara. Methodology: This was a retrospective, transversal and descriptive study based on documentary analysis. Results: Among these newborns, 91% were premature and 09% were hypotrophic. At admission, 47% of FPNs were in good clinical condition, while 983 were in fair clinical condition, and 4,7 were in poor clinical condition. The main complications observed were neonatal infection (75%), neonatal jaundice (52%), and respiratory distress (97%). Breastfeeding (93%) and KMC (70.94%) were the primary preventive care methods. The outcome was favorable in 54, 27% of cases, but lethal in 36, 61% after an average hospital stay of 6 days. The weight gain at discharge was 59, 52 g/kg of body weight. More than half of the hypotrophs had a weight gain greater than 15 g/kg/day. Conclusion: The prevalence of LBW remains high and linked to modifiable factors. It is crucial to continue to strengthen the capacities of health centres, improve mothers’ education, and standardize care protocols.

Source: Open Journal of Pediatrics

DOI: 10.4236/ojped.2025.154059