Abstract:
During the food emergency of 1984/85 in Northern Ethiopia records were kept on births in one relief camp. In retrospective analysis of these records birthweight and neonatal mortality were related to selected maternal characteristics. Mean birth weights were significantly lower than those previously reported in other Ethiopian populations. Birthweights were related to maternal weights recorded immediately after delivery. Neonatal mortality increased as the maternal Body Mass Index decreased. However birthweight only showed a significant reduction when maternal BMI was below 18 kg/m2.