BIRTH WEIGHT OF HAUSA INFANTS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The birth weight of 1460 Hausa singleton infants was recorded and analysed. The birth weight of Hausa infants (Mean +/- SD) was 3.03 +/- 0.45 kg, being higher in males (3.08 +/- 0.47 kg) than females (2.97 +/- 0.48 kg). The difference was significant (P less than 0.001). The mean birth weight of first born children was significantly lower than the subsequent born, and increasing birth order was associated with higher birth weight irrespective of maternal age. The birth weight was influenced more by the parity as compared to maternal age. The incidence of low birth weight was 15.8 per cent, being lower in males (13.6 per cent) as compared to females (18.1 per cent). Comparison were made with studies from other parts of the country as well as from other countries.