Resumen

LEAL-MATEOS, Manrique  y  SALAZAR-SOLIS, Ricardo. Prevalencia de bajo peso en recién nacidos atendidos en el Hospital San Rafael de Alajuela. Rev. costarric. cienc. méd [online]. 2004, vol.25, n.1-2, pp.67-73. ISSN 0253-2948.

Prematurity and low birth-weight considerably increase neonatal mortality. ln industrialized countries, these events are some of the greatest predictors of neonatal mortality. To analyze the prevalence of these phenomena in national hospitals is of great importance, not only to measure their occurrence but also to state possible hypotheses of causality which allow health -service planning with greater efficiency and the possibility of evaluating new public health needs. The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence of low birthweight in newborns attended to in the Obstetrical Service of the Hospital San Rafael de Alajuela during the year 2003, as well as neonatal factors associated with this event. A descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional investigation was done. The sampling frame was the number of births included in the statistical registry of the delivery room of the Obstetrical Service of the San Rafael Hospital in Alajuela. The sampling method was randomized and systematic. The maternal variables collected were: age, civil status and number of pregnancies. The neonatal variables studied were: sex, birthweight and gestational age. The sample analyzed included 396 live births. The average birthweight was 3, 198 grams (95% confidence interval between 3151.8 grams to 3244.2 grams.) 6.6% showed a birthweight lower than 2500 grams. The prevalence of low birthwieght in San Rafael Hospital of Alajuela was 6.6%, which is lower than the percentage registered for Latin America and for Costa Rica

Palabras clave : Prevalence; low birthweight; Alajuela.