Aims: To assess risk factors related to low birth weight babies in Sana'a, Yemen.
Methods: We conducted an unmatched case-control study of 252 women who came for delivery at Al Thawra Hospital, Sana'a, Yemen, between August and October 2016.
Results: Significant risk factors for low birth weight were: birth interval < 2 years; history of pre-eclampsia during current pregnancy; preterm gestational age < 37 weeks; and khat chewing or smoking during pregnancy. After controlling for all the confounders, only birth interval < 2 years was significantly associated with low birth weight.
Conclusion: Shorter birth interval is an important risk factor for low birth weight; therefore, improving maternal awareness of this should be emphasized during postnatal follow-up.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used cross-sectional and secondary data from the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS). A total of 142 infants under 1 year were selected as the respondents. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to examine factors associated with diarrhoea in infants with LBW in Indonesia.
RESULTS: There are several factors more likely to increase the incidence of diarrhoea in infants with LBW, which are living in rural areas [OR = 5.65, 95% CI = 1.08-29.5] and having internet access less than the last 12 months (OR = 13.03, 95% CI = 1.48-114). Meanwhile, factors more likely to decrease the incidence of diarrhoea in infants with LBW, which are maternal age (20-24 years old) [odds ratio (OR) = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.01-0.98], cell phone ownership (OR = 0.08, 95% CI= 0.01-0.45), and the use of feeding bottles (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.05-0.92).
CONCLUSION: This study highlights that maternal age, cell phone ownership, internet access, area of residence, and use of feeding bottles are significant factors associated with diarrhoea in infants with LBW. Health workers must enhance health education related to those factors through the Community Integrated Child Health Service (Posyandu) programs.
METHODS: Data were collected for infants born before 32 weeks gestation and/or weighing less than 1.8 kg treated for CMV disease with GCV or valGCV between 2016 and 2023.
RESULTS: Twenty-four infants (58% males and 48% Asian ethnicity) with a median gestation of 31 weeks [interquartile range (IQR): 26.6-36.1], median weight of 950 g (IQR: 470-1692) and median age of 45 days (IQR: 6-84) at initiation of treatment were included. Seventeen infants were treated for symptomatic postnatal CMV and 7 for symptomatic congenital CMV. Most infants receiving GCV had 6 mg/kg twice daily dosing and most receiving valGCV had 16 mg/kg twice daily dosing. Fourteen infants had drug concentrations measured with combined geometric mean minimum blood plasma concentration (Cmin) of 2.44 mg/L and maximum blood plasma concentration of 7.98 mg/L for doses of 6 mg/kg GCV and 16 mg/kg valGCV, which is higher compared with term infants. The estimated area under the curve at 12 hours (AUC0-12h) was 54.34 mg × h/L, which doubled the value for term infants in a previous study. Notably, AUC0-12h had an inverse relationship with gestational age and weight. Infants with lower gestation and higher Cmin showed a higher tendency for more than 1 adverse effect.
CONCLUSIONS: GCV and valGCV use among preterm and very low birthweight infants with CMV disease resulted in a higher incidence of adverse events, increased AUC0-12h and elevated Cmin compared with term infants. Further pharmacokinetic studies are necessary to determine the ideal dosage in this population.