Influencia del bajo peso al nacer en el estado de salud durante el primer a？o

a descriptive and retrospective study about the influence of low birth weight on the health status during the first year of life was conducted in the municipality of jaruco from january 1, 1994, to december, 1995. two gruops of children were analyzed: the first group was composed of 55 infants with less than 2 500 g in the studied period, and in the second group there was a similar amount of infants selected from the rest of those who were born with more than 2 500 g. it is concluded that infants with low birth weight show no differences in their physical development, but that there is an increase in the indexes of ambulatory and hospital morbidity resulting from respiratory tract infections, acute diarrheal diseases, urinary sepsis and anemia. it is also demonstrated the importance of promotion and prevention to reduce low birth weight.