Resumen

FANEITE A, Pedro et al. Recién nacido de bajo peso: Evaluación. Rev Obstet Ginecol Venez [online]. 2002, vol.62, n.1, pp.5-10. ISSN 0048-7732.

Objective: To study the low birth weight babies, related factors, perinatal state and to make suggestions for a more effective attention. Method: Analytical epidemiological and retrospective study of 170 low birth weight babies (2 500 g or less), born during the year 2000. The total born alive was 5 012 with an incidence of 3.39%. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Dr. Adolfo Prince Lara" Hospital, Puerto Cabello, Estado Carabobo. Results: There was 83,43 % of single mothers, 22,35% were 19 years of age or less, and 71,92 % had no prenatal care. The 28.82 % was admitted in labor, 17.05 % had premature membrane rupture, and threatens of premature delivery (11.76 %). The 55.30 % were multigravida, 60 % were preterm and 40 term, spontaneous delivery 62.94 %. The weight of babies ranged between 2 000 g and 2 500 g (71.76 %) and size 45 cm to 49 cm (65.29 %); Apgar 7 or less was obtained in 77.77 %, but preterm and term babies had 93.68 % and 55.22 % respectively. Global morbidity was 48.23 %, for preterm 61 % and at term 27.94 %; global perinatal mortality was 24.11 %, preterm 34.31 % and 8.82% for term babies. In both groups was relevant the respiratory distress syndrome. Conclusion: This is an important entity, with many factors related and has serious repercussions in the perinatal morbidity-mortality, it is more severe in the preterm newborn. The attention should be intensive with an integral program.

Palabras clave : Newborn; Low birth weight babies; Evaluation.