[Analysis of 79515 low birth weight infants in China].

Within one year period (1986, 10-1987, 9), there were a total of 1,243,248 births (from 28 weeks of gestation to 7 days postpartum) in 945 hospitals of 29 provinces, cities and autonomous regions in China. Among these, 79,515 were low birth weight (LBW) babies (B. W. less than 2,500 g), and the incidence was 64.0 per thousand birth, ranging from 48.0 (Beijing) to 125.8 (Tibet) birth. The incidence of full term LBW was 35.8% birth, the overall perinatal mortality rate (PMR) was 26.7% while PMR in the LBW group (176.7%) was 11.1 times higher than that of birth weight over 2,500 g group (15.9%). The major causes of LBW and perinatal death were discussed.