DOI: 10.36347/gamj.2024.v05i02.001

Pages: 20-26

Introduction: Birth weight is one of the essential indicators for assessing the state of health of the newborn. It provides information on the chance of surviving during the neonatal period, on the potential for growth and development from birth. Low birth weight or low birth weight is defined as a birth weight less than 2500g regardless of gestational age. Method and Materials: this is a retrospective and descriptive study of newborns admitted to the neonatology unit of the pediatrics department at the Reference Health Center of Commune I of Bamako from January to December 2020. Results: During the study period, 1702 newborns were received at the neonatology unit, of which 247 had a birth weight of less than 2500g, i.e. a frequency of 14.5%. The majority of mothers, 69.6%, were aged 18 to 35 with an average age of 24.5 years. They were unschooled (49.8%), housewives (79.4). Mothers had completed at least four prenatal consultations in 31.6% of cases compared to zero consultations (8.1%). The first obstetric ultrasound was performed after 14 weeks of amenorrhea in 58.7%. The gestational age most represented by low birth weights was 32 to 36 weeks+6 days in 64.8% of cases. The sex ratio was 1.2 in favor of boys. The mother and low weight couples resided in commune I in 60% of cases. Low birth weight was due to prematurity in 81.4% compared to 19.6% due to intrauterine growth restriction. Low birth weights were presented with hypothermia in 56.3%. The average body temperature was 35.6% with extremes of 33°C to 38.9°C. mortality was 9.3%. Neonatal infection was the cause of death in 56.6%. Conclusion: The neonatal period is particularly critical for low birth weights. Taking measures against this phenomenon is essential to reduce neonatal mortality.