These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Overview of the problems of the small birth weight baby in Singapore.
    Author: Wong HB.
    Journal: J Singapore Paediatr Soc; 1986; 28(1-2):104-11. PubMed ID: 3762069.
    Abstract:
    Some of the possible reasons why Singapore's perinatal mortality rate (PMR) is lower than that of many Western countries are examined. The PMR is lower despite the fact that Singapore's economic status is lower than that in most Western countries and the perinatal facilities are not superior. Also considered are the problems associated with perinatal health of the infants in Singapore. In Singapore in 1984 the PMR was 10.6 stillbirths and deaths within the 1st week of life per 1000 stillbirths and livebirths. This is one of the lowest PMR rates in the world. Legalized abortions comprise 50% of livebirths in Singapore. The mothers who choose legalized abortions often are young and members of the lower socioeconomic group, suggesting that if their pregnancies had come to term, many of these babies may have added to the perinatal or infant mortality rate. An assessment of the role of abortions in lowering the PMR of a country might provide some interesting data. Of the 3 major ethnic groups in Singapore -- Chinese, Malay, and Indian, the Indians have the highest proportion of low birth weight (LBW) babies. The Chinese have the least LBW babies with the Malays in between. These differences continued to be evident in 1982. In 1984, the perinatal mortality rates of the Malay and Indian children were higher than that of the Chinese, but there was no difference between that of the Indian and the Malay. In LBW babies (2500 g and less), females predominate in every birth weight category except for 1000g-1499g. After 3000g, males predominate in every birth weight category, so that males predominate as a whole. This male preponderant sex ratio changes postnatally due to a higher death rate in males right up to age 75. As the mortality rate in LBW infants is high, males also will die in greater numbers in this LBW category. An improvement in perinatal care, particularly in the intensive care area, has served to lower mortality rates among both normal birthweight and LBW babies. LBW is the major determinant of neonatal mortality, and in the Singapore context, it is necessary to study survivors with LBW and very low birth weight and to follow them to school and beyond. It is not sufficient to be satisfied with low perinatal mortality rates, as the perinatal mortality rate suggests only the tip to the iceberg, which hides considerable morbidity.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]