Trends and outcome of low birth weight (LBW) infants in India

Factors Associated With Low Birth Weight Among the Tribal Population in India: A Narrative Review

Low birth weight (LBW) is defined by the WHO as a birth weighing less than 2500 g (5.5 lb). The highest burden of any nation is LBW infants. In countries where the frequency of neonate babies is high, short gestation is a major cause. LBW babies have an 11-13 times greater risk of delayed developmental milestones and other medical diagnoses. Greater than the global incidence, LBW prevalence is a severe public health problem in India. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using internet sources like PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. The words "birth weight," "abnormal birth weight," "LBWs," "neonates," "premature birth," "risks factors," "causes," "factors," "prevalence," and "frequency" were searched. In this review, we examine the causes of LBW, implementation of pre-birth prevention strategies, and post-birth multifaceted health promotion interventions. The mother's knowledge, dietary requirements, and prenatal services need to be addressed to decrease the prevalence of LBWs among tribal districts of India.

Postnatal Kangaroo mother care practice at home and comparison of improvement in vital parameters in low-birth-weight babies in-home setup and non-teaching hospital setup in rural coal mines area Jharkhand, India: A community-based observational study

Introduction

Low birth weight (LBW) newborns especially those <2000 g are more prone to hypothermia due to which other physiological parameters gets deteriorated in the 1st week of life. The objective of this observational study was to continue Kangaroo mother care practice at home and to ascertain whether KMC was effective in improving the vital parameters of LBW babies when it is given at home in a rural coal mines area, in Jharkhand, India.

Materials and Methods

This study was a community-based prospective observational study, done over three years from November 2019 to November 2022. In this study, we included 156 pairs of both mothers and LBW babies (weight 1500 g to <2000 g). After discharge from the hospital on day 3, KMC was continued at home on day 4, day 5, and day 6. Data of four physiological parameters, namely, temperature, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and heart rate were collected before and after KMC and analyzed.

Results

Among 400 newborns, 156 LBW babies (39.0%) who were given KMC at home showed similar but statistically significant improvement of vital parameters, especially in temperature and oxygen saturation (P < 0.0001) compared to the same babies 156 (39.0%) given KMC in the hospital (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Kangaroo mother care, which was continued at home, has a significant role in the Improvement of vital parameters, especially concerning temperature and oxygen saturation. If the babies in the weight range of 1500 g to <2000 g are healthy, well-breast-fed, and have no other risk factors, they can be discharged early and managed at home by delivering supportive care and nursing care along with Kangaroo mother care with continuous follow-up.

Toxoplasma gondii Infection Is Associated with Low Birth Weight: Findings from an Observational Study among Rural Bangladeshi Women

Gestational Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection may cause substantial adverse effects on developing fetuses, newborns and also mothers. This study aims to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii among rural Bangladeshi pregnant women and determine the risk of a low birth weight (LBW). We followed a longitudinal design where 208 pregnant women were followed until the birth of their infants. Levels of IgG and IgM of T. gondii were assessed using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted associations and multiple regression analysis was performed to understand the confounding and modifying effects of the variables. Thirty-nine (19%) children were born with LBW, among whom 15 (39%) mothers were positive for T. gondii IgG during pregnancy. After adjusting for several confounders and modifiers, pregnant women with T. gondii IgG or IgM seropositivity were significantly associated with LBW of infants (aRR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.17–3.42). The strength of this association increased after adjusting for maternal education (aRR: 4.88, 95% CI: 1.74–13.69). The final model had an AROC of 0.84 with a sensitivity of 36% and specificity of 97%. Although causality is yet to be established, the study observed an association between T. gondii infection during pregnancy among rural Bangladeshi women and LBW of newborns.

Demographic surveillance over 12 years helps elicit determinants of low birth weights in India

BACKGROUND

Low birth weight is an important predictor of maternal and child health. Birth weight is likely to be affected by maternal health, socioeconomic status and quality of health care facilities.

OBJECTIVE

To assess trends in the birth weight, the proportion of low birth weight, maternal factors and health care facilities for delivery in villages of Western Maharashtra from the year 2004 to 2016 and to analyze factors associated with low birth weight for total birth data of 2004-2016.

METHODS

Data collected for 19244 births from 22 villages in Vadu Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), Pune, Maharashtra, India from the year 2004 to 2016 were used for this analysis.

RESULTS

There was an overall increase in the annual mean birth weight from 2640.12 gram [95% CI 2602.21-2686.84] in the year 2004 to 2781.19 gram [95% CI 2749.49-2797.95] in the year 2016. There was no secular trend to show increase or decrease in the proportion of low weight at birth. Increasing maternal age (>18 years) compounded with better education, reduced parity and increasing number of institutional deliveries were significant trends observed during the past decade. Low birth weight was found to be associated with female gender, first birth order, poor maternal education and occupation as cultivation.

CONCLUSION

Changes in maternal age, education, occupation, and increased institutionalized deliveries contributed in to increasing birth weights in rural Maharashtra. Female gender, first birth order, poor maternal education and occupation of cultivation are associated with increased risk of low birth weight.

Is the "South Asian Phenotype" Unique to South Asians?: Comparing Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in the CARRS and NHANES Studies

BACKGROUND

In the context of rising obesity in South Asia, it is unclear whether the "South Asian phenotype"(described as high glucose, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high triglycerides at normal ranges of body weight) continues to be disproportionately exhibited by contemporary South Asians relative to other race/ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the distinctiveness of the South Asian cardiometabolic profile by comparing the prevalence of combined high glucose, high triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (combined dysglycemia and dyslipidemia) in resident South Asians with 4 race/ethnic groups in the United States (Asians, black persons, Hispanics, and white persons) overall and by body mass index (BMI) category.

METHODS

South Asian data were from the 2010 to 2011 Center for Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in South Asia Study, representative of Chennai and New Delhi, India and Karachi, Pakistan. U.S. data were from the 2011 to 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, representative of the U.S.

POPULATION

Combined dysglycemia and dyslipidemia was defined as fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dl and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio >4. Logistic regression was used to estimate the relative odds and 95% confidence intervals of combined dysglycemia and dyslipidemia associated with each race/ethnic group (referent, U.S. white persons). Models were estimated among adults aged 20 to 79 years by sex and BMI category and accounted for age, education, and tobacco use. Data from 8,448 resident South Asians, 274 U.S. Asians, 404 U.S. black persons, 308 U.S. Hispanics, and 703 U.S. white persons without previously known diabetes were analyzed.

RESULTS

In the normal body weight range of BMI 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2), the prevalence of combined dysglycemia and dyslipidemia among men and women, respectively, was 33% and 11% in resident South Asians, 15% and 1% in U.S. Asians, 5% and 2% in U.S. black persons, 11% and 2% in U.S. Hispanics, and 8% and 2% in U.S. white persons. Compared with U.S. whites persons, South Asians were more likely to present with combined dysglycemia and dyslipidemia at all categories of BMI for men and at BMI 18.5 to 29.9 for women in adjusted models. The most pronounced difference between South Asians and U.S. white persons was observed at normal weight (adjusted odds ratio: 4.98; 95% confidence interval: 2.46 to 10.07 for men) (adjusted odds ratio: 9.09; 95% confidence interval: 2.48 to 33.29 for women).

CONCLUSIONS

Between 8% and 15% of U.S. men and 1% and 2% of U.S. women of diverse race/ethnic backgrounds exhibited dysglycemia and dyslipidemia at levels of body weight considered "healthy," consistent with the cardiometabolic profile described as the "South Asian Phenotype." Urban South Asians, however, were 5 to 9 times more likely to exhibit dysglycemia and dyslipidemia in the "healthy" BMI range compared with any other U.S. race/ethnic group.

Impact of Kidney Disease on Survival in Neonatal Extracorporeal Life Support

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and survival to discharge of neonates with kidney disease who received extracorporeal life support.

DESIGN

We analyzed the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization international registry of neonates (< 30 d old) who received extracorporeal life support from 1989 to 2012. We used International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification, codes to identify neonates with kidney disease at time of cannulation for extracorporeal life support.

SETTING

Participating Extracorporeal Life Support Organization centers.

PATIENTS

All neonates who received extracorporeal life support at an Extracorporeal Life Support Organization center from 1989 to 2012.

INTERVENTIONS

We performed bivariate logistic regression to estimate associations between survival and covariates. We used unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression to compare survival to discharge between neonates with and without kidney disease. Odds ratios were estimated separately for three groups based on extracorporeal life support indication: pulmonary indication without congenital diaphragmatic hernia, pulmonary indication with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and cardiac indication. Adjusted models included covariates identified as significant in bivariate models for each group.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome measure was survival to discharge from hospitalization. Of the 28,755 neonates who received extracorporeal life support, 405 had kidney disease (extracorporeal life support indication: 210 pulmonary indication without congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 65 pulmonary indication with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and 130 cardiac indication). Survival was lower in neonates with kidney disease than those without (49% vs 82% pulmonary indication without congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 25% vs 51% pulmonary indication with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 21% vs 41% cardiac indication). Kidney disease was associated with reduced survival in adjusted models (95% CI for odds ratio 0.31-0.59 pulmonary indication without congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 0.27-0.89 pulmonary indication with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 0.31-0.77 cardiac indication).

CONCLUSIONS

Neonates with kidney disease who receive extracorporeal life support have poorer survival to discharge compared with other neonates who receive extracorporeal life support, suggesting that kidney disease should be considered when making extracorporeal life support initiation decisions.

Correlation of paraoxonase1 activities with birth weight

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate arylesterase and lactonase activity of paraoxonase (PON)1 in cord blood of neonates in relation to their birth weight. The authors hypothesized that cord blood PON1 arylesterase and lactonase activities will be compromised in neonates having low birth weight.

METHODS

Eighty neonates born in authors' hospital, irrespective of mode of delivery were included. Forty children with low birth weight were included in case group and 40 with normal birth weight were included as controls. PON1 arylesterase and lactonase activities were measured.

RESULTS

Serum arylesterase activity decreased significantly in low birth weight babies (p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis (R = 0.728) indicated significant correlation between arylesterase and birth weight. Serum lactonase activity was also reduced in low birth weight babies. Its linear regression analysis (R = 0.727) indicated significant correlation between lactonase and birth weight.

CONCLUSIONS

PON 1 activity is significantly reduced among low birth weight babies in comparison to normal weight babies.