Birth Weights Of Full Term Newborn Babies Among The Igbos Of Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Aims and Objective: The birth weights of all full term newborn infants have not been studied in the Igbo ethnic area of Eastern Nigeria. Nigeria study is aimed at establishing reference figures for this part of the country

Materials and Methods: A five – year (1991 – 1996) retrospective, Multicenter study of birth weights of full term newborn infants was carried out in four hospitals located four different states in Eastern Nigeria. All the state in the Igbo ethnic area of the country, The hospital included the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, St. Charles Borromoeo hospital, Onitsha , mater Miseri Cordiae Hospital, Afikpo and federal and Federal Medical Center, Umuahia A total number of 20, 805 babies was enrolled in the study, made up of 10,. 618 males and 10, 187 female.

Result: The mean birth weight of all the full term babies was 3.17 (+ /- 0.074) kg, the difference was not statistically significant (p. 0.05) the 3rd centile was 2.0004, 50th centile 3.2253 and 97th centile 4.1505. The low Birth Weight rate was 9.533%

Conclusion: The mean birth weight of the full term newborn infants in the Igbo ethnic areas of Eastern Nigeria is 3.17kg

Key Words: birth weight, Full term babies, Eastern Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.7(1) 2004: 33-36