ABSTRACT

This study estimates the level of low- high weight and the data used was obtained from the Records Department of Federal Medical Center (F.M.C.) Umuahia. The methods used in the analysis are simple statistical measures such as mean, Standard deviation, percentage and cross-tabulation, Also, the chi-square goodness —of —fit was used to determine the distribution of birth weights and Bartlett's test for constant variance. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between birth weights and the background characteristics. Results of the analyses show that the data on birth weight is normally distributed with mean 2.90kg and standard deviation of 0.65kg. Hence, tie esbmate of the level of low birth weight is given as about 27% of live births. This figure appears quite high considering the high cost of management of low — birth weight and the risk to which their lives are exposed. The data on differentials and the result of the correlation analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between birth weights and the background Characteristics. The limitations of low birth weight data are described and recommendations are made for further improvements in the data for this important indicator.