Between January 1984 and December 1987, 1509 singleton neonates were admitted into Special Care Baby Unit at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital; 29(1.9%) of these were Extreme Low
Birthweight (ELBW), 86(5.7%) were Very Low
Birthweight (VLBW), 406(26.9%) were Low
Birthweight (LBW) and 988 (65.5%) were Normal
Birthweight (NBW) infants. Survival rates in the four categories were 10.3%, 46.5%, 89.2% and 94.7% respectively. Factors which significantly influenced survival in the VLBW infants included higher mean
birthweight (p less than 0.01) longer mean gestation (p less than 0.001) and lower incidence of birth
asphyxia (p less than 0.02 with Yates's correction). Furthermore the survivors were significantly more mature for their gestation than those who died (p = 0.008, Fisher's Exact test). Care of the VLBW infant is not beyond the capabilities of Special Care Baby units in developing countries. In the light of our report, survival of Low
Birthweight infants is a strong reflection of that of VLBW infants and survival of this category of babies could be improved by instituting general measures such as those aimed at reducing the incidence of LBW in the environment and by specific measures like carrying out prompt and effective
resuscitation of the asphyxiated neonate and preventing
sepsis.