Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Birth weight babies'

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008.
Title from electronic title page (viewed Sep. 16, 2008). "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication." Discipline: Journalism and Mass Communication; Department/School: Journalism and Mass Communication, School of.

The incidence of Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies born in the Uitenhage Provincial Hospital would seem to be a cause of concern from a public health of view. The incidence of 21% recorded during 1999 is markedly higher than the 7% recorded in the United States of America in 1998 and the average of 17% noted for developing countries. Some health concerns related to LBW babies are Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, scholastic performances later in life, and several chronic diseases in adults associated with them having been born as LBW babies.

Thesis (MOccTher (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Occupational Therapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: AGTERGROND Dit is bekend dat vroeggebore babas met ʼn baie lae geboortemassa ʼn hoër insidensie van ontwikkelings-, gedrags- en mediese agterstande en verskeie leerprobleme toon teen die tyd dat hulle skoolgaande ouderdom bereik. Kommer bestaan ook oor die omgewingseffek van die neonatale intensiewe sorgeenheid op die sensoriese ontwikkeling van die vroeggebore baba en hoe dit tot bogenoemde agterstande kan bydra. Daar is verskillende benaderings wat daarop aanspraak maak dat hulle die probleem kan oplos, met kangaroemoedersorg (‘kangaroo mother care’) en ontwikkelingsorg (‘developmental care’) wat in die literatuur uitgesonder is as besonders belowend. Met die aanvang van hierdie studie was daar nog geen empiriese studies in die literatuur gerapporteer wat enige aansprake van hierdie benaderings bevestig het nie. Daar was dus ʼn behoefte vir ʼn empiries-nagevorsde program wat prakties in die neonatale intensiewe eenheid toegepas kon word met die oog op die vermindering van omgewingstressors ten opsigte van die vroeggebore baba se sensoriese sisteme. DOEL Die doel met die studie was om die invloed te bepaal van ʼn Sensoriese Ontwikkelingsorgprogram (‘Sensory Developmental Care Programme’), wat ʼn spesifieke kangaroemoedersorg- protokol insluit, op die sensoriese ontwikkeling van die vroeggebore baba met 'ʼn baie lae geboortemassa tot en met die ouderdom van 18 maande (gekorrigeerde ouderdom). METODOLOGIE ʼn Ewekansig-gekontroleerde studie is uitgevoer. Die studiesteekproef het bestaan uit 89 vroeggebore babas met ʼn baie lae geboortemassa wat in ʼn periode van 24 maande toegelaat is tot die neonatale eenheid van Tygerberg Hospitaal in Kaapstad, Suid-Afrika. Die babas is gewerf op grond van sekere kriteria en is dan daarna ewekansig aan een van twee groepe toegeken: 1) die intervensiegroep het sorg ontvang volgens die Sensoriese Ontwikkelingsorgprogram vir 10 dae; en 2) die kontrolegroep het ook vir 10 dae die standaardsorg van die eenheid ontvang. Die intervensiegroep het uit 45 babas bestaan, van wie 22 die studie voltooi het, terwyl die kontrolegroep uit 44 babas bestaan het van wie 20 die studie voltooi het. Beide studiegroepe is opgevolg op 6, 12 en 18 maande (gekorrigeerde ouderdom), by welke geleentheid die Sensoriese Funksietoets vir Babas (‘Test of Sensory Functions in Infants’) telkens toegepas is vir die assessering van sensoriese ontwikkeling. Op 18 maande (gekorrigeerde ouderdom) is ʼn assessering met die Griffiths Ontwikkelingskaal ook gedoen om funksies in die ander ontwikkelingsareas van die babas te bepaal. Toetsresultate is geanaliseer met behulp van herhaalde ANOVAmetings en die Bonferoni t-prosedure om die effek van die Sensoriese Ontwikkelingsorgprogram op die sensoriese ontwikkeling van die babas tot en met 18 maande (gekorrigeerde ouderdom) te bepaal. RESULTATE Die resultate van die vergelyking van die prestasie van beide groepe (groep-effek), gemeet met behulp van die Sensoriese Funksietoets vir Babas, is van groot belang vir hierdie studie. Die intervensiegroep het betekenisvol verskil op die totale telling (p<0.00), sowel as op die volgende vier van die vyf subtoets-tellings: respons op diepdruk (‘tactile deep pressure’) (p<0.03); motoriese aanpassingsreaksies (p<0.03); visuele tas-integrasie (p<0.00); en respons op vestibulêre stimulasie (p<0.01). GEVOLGTREKKING Die resultate van die studie dui aan dat die babas in die intervensiegroep baat gevind het by die Sensoriese Ontwikkelingsorgprogram met betrekking tot hul sensoriese funksies tot en met die ouderdom van 18 maande (gekorrigeerde ouderdom). Die Sensoriese Ontwikkelingsorgprogram het geblyk prakties sowel as suksesvol te wees met betrekking tot sy doel. Die Program sou daarom met vrug in ander neonatale intensiewe sorgeenhede aangewend kon word.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND Premature infants of very low birth weight are known to be inclined to developmental, medical, behavioural and various learning deficiencies by the time they reach schoolgoing age. Concerns have been raised about the effect of the neonatal intensive care unit environment on the sensory development of the premature infant and how this could contribute to these deficiencies. Various approaches claim to address this problem, of which kangaroo mother care and developmental care have in the literature been singled out as particularly promising. However, at the commencement of this study no empirical studies had been reported in the literature to confirm any of the claims of these approaches. Therefore, a need existed for an empirically researched programme that could be practically applied in the neonatal intensive care unit with a view to reducing environmental stressors regarding the sensory systems of the premature infant. AIM The aim of this study was to determine the influence of a Sensory Developmental Care Programme, which incorporated a specific kangaroo mother care protocol, on the sensory development of the very low birth weight premature infant, up to the age of 18 months (corrected age). METHODOLOGY A randomised controlled study was conducted. The study sample consisted of 89 very low birth weight premature infants, admitted during a 24-month period to the neonatal care unit at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. The infants were recruited by means of certain criteria and then randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) the intervention group was cared for according to the Sensory Developmental Care Programme for ten recorded days; and 2) the control group that received the standard care of the unit, also for ten days. The intervention group consisted of 45 infants of whom 22 completed the study, while the control group consisted of 44 infants of whom 20 completed the study. Both study groups were followed up at six, 12 and 18 months (corrected age) when the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants was used to do a sensory developmental assessment. At 18 months (corrected age) a Griffiths Developmental Scale assessment was also conducted to determine function in other areas of development. Test results were analysed using repeated measures of ANOVA, and the Bonferoni t procedure to determine the effect that the Sensory Developmental Care Programme had on the sensory development of the infant up to 18 months (corrected age). RESULTS The results of the comparison of the performance of both groups (group effect), measured by the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants are of great importance to this study. The intervention group had a significant difference on the total score (p<0.00), as well as on the following four of the five sub-tests scores: reactivity to tactile deep pressure (p<0.03); adaptive motor functions (p<0.03); visual-tactile integration (p<0.00); and reactivity to vestibular stimulation (p<0.01). CONCLUSION The results of this study signify that the infants in the intervention group benefited from the Sensory Developmental Care Programme concerning their sensory functions up to the age of 18 months (corrected age). The Sensory Developmental Care Programme was demonstrated to be both practical and successful in terms of its aims. The Programme could therefore be fruitfully utilised in other neonatal intensive care units.

碩士
高雄醫學大學
公共衛生學研究所
91
Background： ‘Preterm babies’ (gestational weeks less than 37 weeks) and ‘low birth weight babies’ (birth weight less or equal than 2500g) are worse pregnant outcomes. Since both incidence of preterm and low birth weight are significant predictors of infant mortality. Purpose: There are three objectives in our study. First，to evaluate the incidences of preterm and low birth weight babies in Taiwan from 1978 to 1997. Second，to evaluate the incidence of preterm and low birth weight babies in each countries in 1997.Third, to evaluate each possible confounders the odds ratio of preterm and low birth weight babies in Taiwan from 1991 to 1997. Materials & methods: We used the birth registration data from 1978 to 1997. We evaluate the incidence. We also used multiple logistic regression to control confounders (including year, maternal age, baby sex, maternal education, marital status, place…etc), and we evaluate the odds radio of several possible factor for preterm and low birth weight babies. Results: The incidences of preterm and low birth weight babies are steady increase yearly from 1978 to 1997. The incidences of preterm babies is 2.56% in 1978；The incidences of preterm babies is 6.29% in 1997. The incidences of low birth weight infants is 5.60% in 1978；The incidences of low birth weight infants is 10.99% in 1997. The incidences of preterm and low birth weight babies is in Nantou，Taitung and Haulien are significant highly then other country；The logistic regressions show that: the incidences of preterm and low birth weight babies are related to maternal age, baby sex, maternal education, marital status, place.

碩士
中國醫藥大學
護理學系碩士班
100
The purpose of the study was to expore the effect of the resilience on babies and mothers with very-low-birth-weight infants. The study was a cross-sectional, correlational research design in which purposive sampling were used. This data was collected from 2011/5/20 to 2011/8/31 with structural instrument. After obtaining permission from mothers, we shipped instruments to collect data. The instruments including : Personal Information Scale, Parenting Stress Index/Short Form, Social support Questionnaire, Parenting resilience Scale, Coping Scale, WHOQOL-BREF. We derive those very-low-birth-weight Premature’ s basic medical information and the Mental Development Index(MDI)and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI)of Bayley Scales of Infant Development 2nd, were performed at 12 months of age from corrected age (CA) of prematurity from the Premature Baby Foundation of Taiwan. Study participants were 91 very-low-birth-weight premature and 102 mothers of very-low-birth-weight Premature. The data was analyzed through SPSS Windows 15.0 statistical software. The results indicate that: (1)Firstly to analyze the parenting stress, the results show that the parental distress domain got the highest score, secondly the parenting resilience, the results show that the positive thinking domain got the highest score, thirdly the social support, the results show that the emotion social support domain got the highest score, fourth the coping strategy, the results show that the emotional-focused coping strategies got the highest score, finally the quality of life, the results show that the physiology health domain got the highest score. (2)The Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) of very-low-birth-weight premature had significantly negative relations with parent-child dysfunctional interaction, had significantly positive relations with emotion social support, facing frankly, self-encourage, positive thinking and the whole of parenting resilience; after that the Mental Development Index(MDI) of very-low-birth-weight premature had significantly negative relations with parent-child dysfunctional interaction, had significantly positive relations with problem- focused coping strategies, self-encourage, positive thinking, facing frankly and the whole of parenting resilience. Parenting stress had significantly negative relations with quality of life, and problem-focused coping strategies had significantly positive relations with quality of life. Emotional-focused coping strategies had significantly negative relations with quality of life, social support and the whole of parenting resilience had significantly positive relations with quality of life. (3)According to Multiple Regression analysis Parenting resilience affect Included of Psychomotor Development Index (PDI), Mental Development Index(MDI) of very-low-birth-weight premature, and quality of life of mother. Pregnancy type, number of children, family income, birth weight, gender, Respiratory Distress Syndrome(RDS), Periventricular Echodenisit(PVE), parenting stress, emotional-focused coping strategies are risk factors of parenting resilience. Problem- focused coping strategies, social support and mother education level are protective factors of parenting resilience. This study shows that resilience can promote very-low-birth-weight premature and mother’s health. Mothers who have positive thinking and facing frankly can make premature get higher scale in PDI, MDI and mothers’ quality of life. Based on this study, researchers might design a set of enhanced intervention measures parenting resilience in order to benefit more families in premature infants.

Qualification: MBBCh (Wits), FCPaed (SA), PhD Paediatric neonatologist Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital Degree report submitted for: MMed (Paed) 25 May 2016
Background. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of blindness for very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500g) babies. ROP screening identifies babies that require treatment to prevent major visual impairment. Objectives. To evaluate the screening for ROP at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) by reviewing the number of babies screened according to the CMJAH guidelines, the grades of ROP found and the treatment modality received. Methods. This was a retrospective record review of VLBW babies born between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013 at CMJAH, whether inborn or transferred in. The babies were divided into 2 groups based on age at final outcome. Final outcome was defined as death, discharge or transfer out of the unit. The ‘early’ outcome group had their final outcome before day 28 of life. The ‘late’ outcome group had their final outcome at day 28 or more of life. The early outcome group qualified for outpatient ROP screening and the late outcome group qualified for inpatient ROP screening. Results. There were a total of 572 VLBW babies at CMJAH during this time period. The babies had a mean birth weight of 1127g (SD 244.75) and gestational age of 29 weeks (SD 2.743). The mean duration of stay was 29 days (SD 21.66) and there were 309 female babies. Of these 572 babies, 304 comprised the early outcome group and 268 comprised the late outcome group. 7 In the early outcome group babies that were transferred out of the unit or died were excluded, therefore the remaining 147 babies discharged home qualified for outpatient ROP screening. Inpatient ROP Screening was carried out in 36/147 (24.4%) of these babies (not in accordance with ROP screening guidelines). ROP was documented in 4/36 (11.1%). Outpatient ROP screening records were unavailable. Exclusions from the late outcome group included 5 babies. In the late outcome group 111/263 (42.2%) were screened for ROP. ROP was found in 17%. One baby required treatment with intravitreal anti-VEGF and 3 babies required surgery. Conclusions. More than half of the babies in the late outcome group were not screened during their stay (57.8%). More than one third of babies were discharged prior to reaching the current recommended age for screening. Efforts need to be intensified to identify and screen all eligible babies prior to discharge. Outpatient ROP screening is not well documented, therefore prevalence cannot be established.
MB2016

碩士
亞洲大學
健康產業管理學系健康管理組碩士在職專班
101
Objectives Pregnant stage is the most important phase of a new born life. During the gestation period, the physical and psychological environment can affect maternal and fetus health and lead to increasing reproductive risk and adverse outcome. Several studies showed that there was higher risk and prevalence of giving birth to low-weighted babies and substance uses (i.e., tobacco, alcohol, betel nuts, and second-hand smoke exposure) in aboriginal women than that in non-aboriginal women in child-bearing ages. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of mono or multiple substance uses or exposure on the occurrence of low-birth weight babies in aboriginal pregnant women. Methods This thesis analyzed a secondary data. The sources of the data, provided by Bureau of Health Promotion, are “The Study on The Health Behavior and Reproductive Risk Factors among Aboriginal Women in Child-Bearing Ages in Year 2011” linked with “Newborns Reporting System”. The research subjects were aged 15~49 aboriginal (N=481) and non-aboriginal (N=370) women with pregnant experience, and their children (i.e., aboriginal babies N=1,039, and non-aboriginal babies N=536) from Pu-Li Township and Ren-Ai Township of Nan-Tou County. The software of SPSS12.0 version was employed as a statistical tool to proceed both descriptive and inferential analyses. Results This study results showed, no surprisingly, the prevalence of substance uses or exposure in aboriginal pregnant women were significantly higher than that in non-aboriginal pregnant women. After controlling other health factors, compared to aboriginal pregnant women without any use of substances , those who drank and exposed to second-hand smoke at the same time during pregnant period had higher risk (OR=2.655) of giving birth to low weight babies. Conclusion and Suggestion Aboriginal pregnant women had significantly higher prevalence in the single or multiple uses of additive substances than that in non-aboriginal women. In addition, there was a higher risk of low-weight baby occurrence with the combination uses of drinking and second hand smoke exposure in aboriginal pregnant women. Thence, we suggest the continuous health promotion program targeting on those high risk group as well as advocacy of healthy life style targeting on aboriginal women to decrease the occurrence of low-birth-weight babies.

MSc, Child Health Neurodevelopment, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
Background: Prematurely born very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are at high risk for neurodevelopmental problems and require regular follow up. Within the South African context, one needs a reliable and user-friendly screening tool to identify those who require intervention. The Molteno Adapted Scale (MAS) is used for this purpose in many clinics, but it has never been validated. Aim: To assess if the MAS performed on young prematurely born infants reliably predicts the neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of age as determined by the Griffiths Mental Development Scales (GMDS). Methods: A retrospective study of records of VLBW infants between 1998 and 2006, from the Panorama Medi-Clinic Neonatal Intensive Care Unit follow up clinic. Infants with birth weights < 1500g and accurately assessed gestation < 34 weeks were included. Those who suffered brain insults e.g. meningitis, between the early assessments and the GMDS were excluded. For each child, quotients obtained from the MAS at early assessments were compared to quotients obtained on the GMDS after 2 years of age using Spearman correlations. Results: Fifty-two (27 boys) VLBW infants were included in the study, with a mean birth weight of 981.2 ± 225.5 g and mean gestation of 27.7 ± 1.9 weeks. Thirteen (25%) infants had cerebral palsy and two had visual impairment. MAS assessments were performed at mean ages of 5.1, 10.1 and 16.8 months and the GMDS at a mean age of 28.8 months. Correlations between the MAS and the GMDS ranged from 0.1 - 0.43 at the first assessment, 0.29 - 0.46 at the second assessment and 0.52 - 0.63 at the third assessment. Correlations were statistically significant for the Fine Motor quotient on the MAS at the first assessment, the General quotient and Personal Social quotient at the second assessment, and all quotients except Personal Social at the third assessment. Conclusion: Developmental quotients on the MAS at 5.1 and 10.1 months have a weak positive correlation with the GMDS at 28 months. The MAS at 16.8 months significantly correlated with the developmental outcome as assessed on the GMDS at a mean age of 28 months in prematurely born VLBW infants.

Premature birth occurs before parents have had time to prepare for the birth of the infant. This survey was conducted to describe the responses of fathers of preterm low birth weight babies (PTLBW) and their involvement in the care of those babies in a neonatal intensive care unit. A quantitative descriptive non-experimental study design using purposive sampling (a non -probability method of sampling) was adopted. Fifty fathers of PTLBW babies of less than 2500grams, who visited and were involved in the care of their babies in NICU, voluntarily participated in the study by completing a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to collect the demographic information of the participants and to address their responses and their involvement in the care of the baby. Analysis of the findings revealed that fathers reacted positively on the birth of their babies as the majority of the fathers indicated that they were happy despite the fact that their babies were born before time. Fathers in this study experienced varying reactions to the equipment that they saw being used on their babies, 76% mentioned that they were frightened. Moreover, the research findings revealed that a high percentage of fathers, 88%, in the study mentioned that talking to their wives, partners or spouses as well as talking to nurses and doctors in NICU was the main strategies that they had used to cope with their feelings. Teaching is part of the support available to fathers as a tool to enhance their psychological well being and increase their interdependence relationship. Fathers in this study indicated they received information about their babies during visits. Thirty four (68%) of the fathers in the study acknowledged that nurses gave the most teaching about the baby, baby's care, baby's progress and about their overall role while the baby is in NICU. The fathers also in the same manner demonstrated that the information that they received on the NICU environment has helped them to participate in the care of the baby.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

D.Cur.
The feeding of low birth weight babies remains a challenge. Mother's milk is deficient in protein, calcium, magnesium and phosphate. These elements need to be supplemented in order for the low birth weight baby to grow under optimal conditions. The objective of the study was to compare the growth of the low birth weight baby, who was only fed mothers milk, to the low birth weight babay who was fed mother's milk with a commercial fortifier, using mass, lenght and head circumference as a guide. The literature study has shown that there are different methods which can be used to compliment the deficiencies in mothers's milk, for example: premature milk formula, alternating mother's milk with premature milk formula, additional additives to mother's milk and commercial fortifiers. Previous research of mother's milk fortifiers has shown that the biochemistry has positvely influenced their growth. Six patients were used in the experimental group and received 25% mother's milk and 75% fortifier. The control group consisted of eight babies who only received mother's milk. All the babies met the criteria and reached the 1600 gram weight by the time the study was completed. The Mann Whitney U test was used to calculate the results. No significant statistical growth was seen in any of the areas tested. It was concluded that mother's milk should be fortified, despite the results of the study, as mother's milk is definitely deficient in certain nutrients. It is possible to use mother's milk fortifiers in a stronger consentration.