ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Preterm delivery is the most important cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity in the developed world.1 The prevalence of preterm delivery in First-World countries is 6- 10%.2 In developed countries very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) babies account for only 1- 2.5 % of all births.3,4 However, more than half of prematurity-related deaths, morbidity and economic costs are due to VLBW neonates.4 The total perinatally related wastage at Tygerberg Hospital is 31.5 per 1 000 deliveries. Sixty per cent of these deaths are babies with a very low birth weight.5 The mortality rate for severe respiratory distress syndrome is about 50%. The prevalence of other complications are periventricular haemorrhage (30%), patent ductus arteriosus (20%) and necrotising enterocolitis (5- 10%).3 Although the mortality rate for VLBW babies has decrease