PREVALENCE OF HYALINE-MEMBRANE DISEASE IN BLACK-AND-WHITE LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

Previous studies in South Africa and elsewhere have suggested that the re are ethnic differences in the prevalence of hyaline membrane diseas e (HMD). This study compared the prevalence of HMD between black and w hite infants with birth weights of 1 000 - 1 749 g. A cohort of black and one of white low-birth-weight infants were enrolled at Baragwanath and Johannesburg Hospitals respectively. Black infants were found to have a higher rate of intra-uterine growth retardation. When compared according to either birth weight or gestational age categories, black infants had a significantly lower prevalence of HMD. For example, betw een 29 and 34 weeks' gestation 36,2% of black and 62,5% of white infan ts developed HMD (P < 0,001). The reasons for these differences are no t clear, however, and require further study.