Birthweights of Babies in Benin, Bendel State of Nigeria
| Autor: | Osafu Ogbeide, Wole Alakija |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1985 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Pediatrics medicine.medical_specialty Birth weight Population Nigeria Hospitals Special Pregnancy medicine Birth Weight Humans Hospitals Teaching education reproductive and urinary physiology education.field_of_study business.industry Incidence (epidemiology) Infant Newborn Anthropometry medicine.disease Low birth weight Malnutrition Infectious Diseases Pediatrics Perinatology and Child Health Female Health education medicine.symptom business Demography |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 31:139-142 |
| ISSN: | 1465-3664 0142-6338 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/tropej/31.3.139 |
| Popis: | This study provides the average birthweights of babies in Benin City Bendel State of Nigeria. The birthweights of 2056 babies delivered at the Specialist Hospital Benin and 755 babies born at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) were studied. The mean birthweights compare favorably with other developing countries and reflect the relatively good nutrition of pregnant women in the area studied. Birthweight varied with sex institution and socioeconomic status of the patients investigated. The mean birthweight for males was 3.154 kilograms and 3.072 kilograms for females. The mean birthweights for singleton babies were similar to those obtained for Ibadan babies. The birthweights of singleton neonates can be regarded as an approximate indicator of maternal nutrition. Low birth weight is not for most populations a genetic characteristic but due in part to maternal malnutrition and protein deprivation. This study suggests that there is little protein deficiency in pregnancy. Poor antenatal attendance reported in the literature could also account for the lower birthweights of singleton babies and the higher incidence of low birthweight babies found in the area as compared with figures reported in this study and at Ibadan. The health educaton given to mothers regarding nutrition during the antenatal period has more impact on the type of mothers who attend the antenatal clinics. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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