Resumo

FANEITE A, Pedro et al. ¿Tiene importancia el bajo peso neonatal?. Rev Obstet Ginecol Venez [online]. 2011, vol.71, n.3, pp.151-157. ISSN 0048-7732.

Objective: To study the prevalence of low birth weight, associated maternal and perinatal characteristics and assistance. Setting: Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología. Hospital "Dr. Adolfo Prince Lara" Puerto Cabello. Method: Transversal design, retrospective descriptive study of 548 mothers with 554 infants of low birth weight (< 2 500 g), including 6 twin, occurred during the years 2006-2008. Of a total of 7 568 live births, the average prevalence was 7.32 %, or 1 every 14 live births. Results: Patients most districts residing in 46.17 %, with provenance 76.46 % Carabobo state, besides 90.9 % single and concubines, 35.77 % aged 20-24, and 45.5 % did not control pregnancy. In family history, hypertension and diabetes 54.09 % and 25.91 %, on a personal history, hypertension (24.38 %) and cesarean section (23.67 %), and the current condition, labor (37.23 %), premature rupture of membranes (20.99 %), preterm labor (10.77 %). The 49.82 % were multiparous, the 72.08 % and 27.92 pre-term to term, cesarean resolved in 38.5 %, 55.96 % male dominated infants, weighing between 2000 and 2 499 g (39,71 %) and height of 45-49 cm (64.98 %). Had Apgar Index 7 or less was 54.96 %. The morbidity rate was 55.61 %, the perinatal mortality was 32.49 %, fetal 19.85 % and 12.63 % neonatal. Sepsis and prematurity were the predominant diseases in the morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: Low birth weight infants have a high prevalence with notable impact on perinatal health, effects mainly caused by sepsis and prematurity. This complex pathology merits attention in the pathophysiology of early pregnant women, prenatal stimulate and improve perinatal care and research.

Palavras-chave : Neonates; Low birth weight; Epidemiology.