Much of a babys weight is gained during the latter part of pregnancy. As a result of these risks, preterm birth and low birth weight are leading causes of infant death and childhood disability. Oct 01, 2012 very low birth weight has been linked to longterm abnormalities in brain development, as measured by mri at age 8 and 12. The two main causes for a baby to be born at a low birth weight are premature birth and intrauterine growth restrictions iugr. Some effects of low birth weight have been shown to persist into adulthood. Each additional baby increases the risk significantly.
Prematurity and low birth weight urban child institute. Infant low birth weight definition and patient education. Low birth weight causes, consequences and interventions to achieve. About seven in 100 babies born in the uk have a low birth weight hsc pha 2017, isd scotland 2017, nhs digital 2017, welsh government 2017. The preterm rates are approximately 60 percent for twins, 90 percent for triplets, and about 100 percent. Introduction problem statement causes of lbw care of lbw baby kmc prevention references 3.
Top 12 causes of low birth weight in babies being the parent. Low birth weight infants also are at greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome sids as well as breathing problems, cerebral palsy, heart disorders and learning disabilities. Full text get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 8k, or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Fetal or intrauterine growth restriction occurs when the baby is unable to achieve its genetically determined potential. Low birthweight childrens hospital of philadelphia. Results suggested a significant association between antenatal stress exposure and increasing rates of low birth weight odds ratio or 1. Dec 08, 2015 a recent chinese study including very large samples 1703 children with low birth weight and 55 925 children in total assessed the association of birth weight with the risk of obesity in children aged birth weight and childhood obesity, indicating that low levels of birth weight. Low birth weight lbw is defined by the world health organization as a birth weight of a infant of 2,499 g or less, regardless of gestational age. The problem of low birth weight although reliable data on the magnitude and global distribution of low birth weight lbw are limited, it is estimated that approximately 16 percent of all neonates in developing countries weigh less than 2,500 grams at birth and that more than 20 million such infants are born each year. Measurements can be taken of the fetus head and abdomen and compared with a growth chart to estimate fetal weight. They categorised the 12 355 251 babies in the study by birth weight, defining very low. The global incidence of lbw is around 17%, although estimates vary from 19% in the developing countries countries where it is an important public health problem to 57% in the developed countries. Sep 17, 2015 birth weight is an important determinant of child survival and development.
Increased risk runs from childhood into at least 30s, says study. In 1948, the who recommended this cut point as the standard definition in order to make international comparisons more easily. Dec 17, 2014 low birth weight birth weight distribution, driven by a steady increase in births with weights less than 3500 g and a relative decrease in births with weights over 3500 g. Lbw could be the result of either preterm birth or restricted intrauterine growth.
Risk of autism spectrum disorders in low birth weight and. Preterm infants are born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Health effects low birthweight and the environment cdc. About 14% of very low birth weight children and 19% of extremely low birth weight children less than g have belowaverage iqs. The pathophysiology of low birth weight babies associated.
Inappropriate weight gain higher levels of anaemia higher levels of pregnancyinduced. In developed countries, predominant cause of lbw is. The primary cause is premature birth, being born before 37 weeks gestation. There have been many papers describing the impact of ma. But a low birth weight baby can also have many serious health. An imbalance in the amount of stored calories can lead to many diseases. Youll hear this term if your baby weighs less than 2. Low birth weight lbw is one of the main predictors of infant mortality. Associations between low birth weight low birth weight and.
Maternal factors in predicting low birth weight babies. The limitations of lowbirthweight data are described and recommendations. Low birth weight is more common in babies born in the uk to parents of asian, black or mixed heritage, than babies who are born to white european parents kelly et al 2009, nhs digital 2017. Thus, a low birth weight infant could be born preterm or could be born at term gestation following a period of poor intrauterine fetal growth. Mar 25, 2019 a subset of the low birth weight group includes infants born weighing less than 1,500 grams or 3. A large number of infant deaths can be averted by appropriate management of low birth weight babies and prevention of factors associated with low birth weight. Low birth weight infants have become the largest clinical population in the neonatal intensive care unit as a result of improved clinical care and enhanced survival. The prevalence of low birth weight babies in nepal is estimated to be about 1232%. Thus, 8 cohort studies with about 8,271 pregnant women and 1,081,151 children proved eligible. In developing countries, the main cause of infant and child mortality is lbw. Low birth weight in the united states the american journal. Recommended weight gain for a typical pregnancy is 25 to 35 pounds. A lowbirthweight baby may be healthy even though he or she is small.
Determinants of low birth weight among newborns delivered in public. If your baby was born prematurely, and didnt have enough time to grow. Nearly 75 percent neonatal deaths and 50 percent infant deaths occur among the low birth weight. Health and development and making pregnancy safer were merged. About 6% of all babies are estimated to be born with a low birth weight. Those born at less than 30 weeks gestation should be placed in a plastic bag or wrapped immediately at birth, drying the head and putting on a hat. World health organization who defines low birth weight lbw as weight at birth of less than 2500 g.
Globally, out of 9 million live births about 20 million of them are low birth weight and nearly 95. Below normal birth weight in the northwest part of. There are multiple causes of low birth weight, including early induction of labour or caesarean birth for medical or nonmedical reasons, multiple pregnancies, infections and chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure5. Lbw infants encompass a heterogeneous population of newborns. Is the risk of low birth weight or preterm labor greater. Very low birth weight refers to babies who weigh less than 3. Low birth weight lbw remains a significant public health prob lem in many developing countries, and poor nutrition both before and during pregnancy is recognized as an important cause. Mental health of extremely low birth weight survivors. Low birth weight and its associated factors in ethiopia. Empirical data from throughout africa on associations between placental malaria and birth weight outcome, birth weight outcome and infant. Low birth weight is associated with increased deaths in infancy and. During our phylogenetic evolution we have selected genes, the so called thrifty genes, that can help to maximize the amount of energy stored from every consumed calorie.
Fifteen of the 19 studies 79%, ranging in size from 1028. Kalhan, in fetal and neonatal physiology fifth edition, 2017. Longterm consequences of low birth weight sciencedirect. It was formed by merging of the national rural health. Introduction birth weight 1st weight of fetus or new born obtained after birth. An increase of 1 kg of weight at birth was associated with a 0. Violence during pregnancy linked to reduced birth weight. The primary cause of low birthweight is premature birth being born before 37 weeks gestation.
A babys low weight at birth is either the result of preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation or of. Another cause of low birthweight is intrauterine growth restriction. Why low birth weight is linked to obesity later in life. Low birthweight newborns have a higher risk of dying in the first 28 days of life. Low birthweight has been defined by the world health organization who as weight at birth of less than 2,500 grams 5. Low birthweight in newborns symptoms and causes boston. Infant mortality, low birthweight and racial disparity. A newborns weight at birth is an important marker of maternal and fetal health and nutrition. Despite high low birth weight rates, infant mortality rates in india are not very high, because the mature. Low birth weight and adverse perinatal outcomes intechopen. Low birth weight lbw is a wellknown factor associated with. Babies with low birth weight neonatology jama jama.
A low birth weight infant can be born too small, too early, or both. These factors operate to various extents in different environments and cultures. Risk factors for low birth weight in bale zone hospitals. Determinants of low birth weight among newborns delivered in.
Maternal age and its relationship to multiple birth, low. Low birth weight health encyclopedia university of. Birth weight is typically categorized for use among researchers and policy makers in order to identify groups who fall into high to low risk birth weight groups. Babies are born with low birth weight because of prematurity being born too early, poor intrauterine growth growing too slowly in the womb, or both.
Causes of low birth weight include parental smoking, maternal alcohol or drug abuse, pregnancy specific disorders including preeclampsia a pregnancy specific. Many factors affect foetal growth and thus, the birth weight. Low birth weight refers to babies who weigh less than 5. Premature birth is a term for a baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Reasons of low birth weight are mainly linked with either infanttheir mothers side. Van lieshout mcmaster university although individuals born at extremely low birth weight elbw. Some lowbirthweight babies are healthy, but others have serious health problems that need treatment. Srinivas rao 2nd year pg community medicine low birth weight 2. The normal birth weight of newborns in our country is around 2800 to 3000 gm. In the early 80s the distinguished english epidemiologist david barker, formulated a hypothesis suggesting that many events that occur during the. Fortunately, there is a 95 percent chance of survival for babies weighing between 3 pounds, 5 ounces and 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Babies who are born the earliest and smallest have the highest risks of morbidity and mortality.
Definitions of low birth weight are based on average uk figures for all babies weights at birth nhs digital 2017. The casecontrol study was conducted at two main tertiary hospitals in qatar in which participants. Perinatal causes remained significant in very low birthweight babies, as did congenital. The problem of low birth weight improving birth outcomes. Babies are weighed within the first few hours after birth. Sixtyseven percent of all low birth weight babies are premature births. Impact of malaria during pregnancy on low birth weight in. Determinants of low birth weight among mothers who gave.
The weight is compared with the babys gestational age and recorded in the medical record. Although reliable data on the magnitude and global distribution of low birth weight lbw, birth weight low birth weight what is low birth weight. Apr 08, 2015 birth weight of a child is an important indicator of its vulnerability for childhood illness and chances of survival. Birth weight is the weight of the newborn measured immediately after birth. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of low birth weight among mothers who delivered at governmental hospitals, northern. A low birth weight baby may be healthy even though he or she is small. Premature birth is one of the most common causes of low birthweight. Low birth weight is not synonymous with preterm deliveries. The most common cause of low birth weight is premature birth, which means that the baby spent less time growing in the mothers uterus. Very low birth weight and low birth weight infants are at increased risk of similar complications, but the two are different in many aspects of health and healthcare.
A baby is said to have low birth weight if he or she weighs less than 5 pounds,8 ounces at birth. Low birth weight at term and its determinants in a tertiary. If you had twins or more hes online 2012, because they are often born early, and dont have as much room to grow in the uterus womb as single babies rogers and piecuch 2009, nccwch 2011. Low birth weight in the united states the american. Preterm birth and low birth weight maternal and child. Moreover, hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, a leading cause of maternal near miss and perinatal mortality, has a significant effect on the. Lbw is either caused by preterm birth that is, a low gestational age at birth, commonly defined as younger than 37 weeks of gestation or the infant being small for gestational age that is, a slow prenatal growth rate, or a combination of both in general, risk factors in the mother that may contribute to low birth weight include young ages, multiple pregnancies, previous lbw. This can happen for many different reasons which may or may not be related. The consequences of low birth weight include fetal and neonatal. Low birthweight is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.
Low birth weight lbw has been defined by the world health organization who as. To examine sociodemographic and biological risk factors associated with mothers giving birth to a low birthweight newborn among arab women in qatar. By comparison, population data on 114,000 women revealed that, with increased maternal age there were significantly increased risks of. Another cause of low birthweight is intrauterine growth restriction iugr. Across the world neonatal mortality is 20 times more likely for low birth weight babies compared to heavier babies 2. In fact, protein supplementation appears to have a negative effect on pregnancy outcome. The preterm rates are approximately 60 percent for twins, 90 percent for triplets, and about 100 percent for quadruplets and beyond. If your baby is born before completing 37 weeks inside you, then he will most likely be. Top 12 alarming causes of low birth weight in babies. Overweight and obesity in mothers and risk of preterm. The incidence in spain in the decade 19801989 was about 5. Low birth weight babies at higher risk for mental health problems later in life. Optimal feeding of low birth weight infants in lowand middle.
A birthweight less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces is diagnosed as low birthweight. It contributes substantially to neonatal, infant and childhood mortality as well as morbidity2. The medical and social costs for low birthweight and very low birthweight babies are are significant. Low birth weight or lbw, as it is abbreviated, denotes birth weight of less than 2500 gm. Summary malaria during pregnancy can result in low birth weight lbw, an important risk factor for infant mortality. Predictors of low birth weight babies physiological reasoning behind teenagers having low birth weight babies implications of low birth weight what are predictors of low birth weight. When a woman carries more than one baby, her risk of premature delivery skyrockets. However, it is important to understand that not all low birth weight babies have some underlying medical condition or problem. In fact, the number of babies born during the late preterm period of 34 to 36 weeks has risen 20 percent since 1990, according to the u. The study found that among infants born to mothers who had experienced an assault, about 15 percent weighed less than 2,500 grams at birth. Subcategories include very low birth weight vlbw, which is less than 1500 g 3 pounds 5 ounces, and extremely low birth weight elbw, which is less than g 2 pounds 3 ounces.
So far, the prevalence and traditional maternal feeding practice correlates of low birth weight have not been explored well in ethiopia. Pdf the manifest importance of reducing the incidence of low birth weight is most obvious for the first year of life. Low birth weight low birth weight rate among african americans is twice that of. Magnitude of low birth weight and associated factors among. Pdf social causes of low birth weight researchgate. Causes and consequences of low birthweight a babys low weight at birth is either the result of preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation or of restricted foetal intrauterine growth. Low birth weight is also associated with delayed physical and intellectual development in early childhood, and in adolescence. Sachdev, professor and incharge, division of clinical epidemiology, department of pediatrics, maulana azad medical college, new delhi 110 002. Not eating enough food during pregnancy can also limit a babys growth. However, in the united states, virtually all nutritional interventions used to reduce low birth weight or its components, preterm birth and growth restriction, have failed 34, 35. Profile of preterm and low birth weight prevention. This report presents country, regional and global estimates of low birth weight for 2000, together with a detailed description of the methods used in calculating the estimates.
Top 10 causes of low birth weight babies howstuffworks. Apr 02, 2009 april 2, 2009 low birth weight babies have been shown in numerous studies to have an elevated risk for heart disease in adulthood, and now a new study may help explain why researchers from. But a lowbirthweight baby can also have many serious health. Broadly, the birth weights may be low because the baby is born small for gestational age sga, as a result of intrauterine growth retardation synonym intrauterine malnutrition iugr or because birth is preterm. Those who survive are more likely to suffer from stunted growth1 and lower iq. Pdf sociodemographic and consanguinity risk factors. Learn about the causes, risks and healthrelated effects of low birthweight. Infants who weigh less than 2,500 g are considered low birth weight babies and if under 1,500 g are very low birth weight. Nearly all low birthweight babies need specialized care in the neonatal intensive care unit nicu until they gain weight and are well enough to go home.
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