FACTORS CORRELATED WITH MORTALITY IN LOW- BIRTH-WEIGHT NEONATES AT THE YAOUNDE-CENTRAL-HOSPITAL

Inhospital mortality rates and causes of death were studied retrospect ively in the 297 low-birth-weight infants hospitalised at the Yaounde Central Hospital from October 1, 1989 through September 30, 1990. Ther e were 49.3% boys and 50.7% girls. The inhospital mortality rate was 3 6.12%. Among infants who died, the causes of low birth weight were dis tributed as follows: prematurity only: 75.5%; prematurity and intraute rine growth retardation: 22.2%; and intrauterine retardation only: 5.3 %. Most deaths (81.49%) occurred during the first postnatal week. Para meters that were significantly correlated with a fatal outcome include d gravida 1 para 1 status of the mother, inadequate prenatal health ca re, need for resuscitation at birth, gestational age equal to or under 30 weeks, and birth weight equal to or under 1500 g. Bacterial infect ions, apnea, and respiratory distress were the main causes of death.