Birth weight and prematurity in Tanzania

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Abstract
The importance of birth weight as an index of nutritional status is discussed. The birth weights of 7528 single live births from 3 hospitals in Tanzania are reported. The overall mean weight for males was 6 lb. 10 1/2 oz. and for females 6 lb. 6 3/4 oz. Birth weights in hospitals are not necessarily typical of birth weights for the whole country since only 12% of births in Tanzania take place in hospitals and other recognized medical institutions. Mean birth weights were lowest at Nzega, highest at Moshi and intermediate at Tanga. They run parallel with the economic status of the people in the 3 areas. There were more male infants (52.1%) than female infants (47.9%) in the series. Birth weights of both males and females at Mashi were significantly higher in 2nd and subsequent births than in 1st-born infants. Birth weights were higher for 3rd-born infants than for 2nd-born infants in males, but not in females; 10.1% of births at Moshi were premature.

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