Lo w birth weight is a significant health problem that contributes to infant mortality and to developmental and neur ological disability. Majority of indian low birthweight lbw infants are mature born after 37 weeks of gestation. When the data file was not available for further analysis and only a published estimate of com parative birth size was available from the survey, this was used. The lmp, birth weight, and other data from nysdohs birth. Low birth weight is defined as less than 2,500 grams about 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Births are counted in the mothers county of residence births are counted in the county corresponding to the mothers address on the childs birth certificate, not the county the child was born in. Guidelines on optimal feeding of low birthweight world health. Birth weight is the weight of the newborn measured immediately after birth. 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. Babies born with lbw can have diabetes, heart disease, high blood. Low birth weight measure description percent of infants born during the 12month evaluation period that had a birth weight of less than 2500 grams. Low birth weight lbw has been defined by the world health organization who as. Global nutrition targets set at the world health assembly in 2012 include an ambitious 30% reduction in lbw prevalence between 2012 and 2025. Research shows positive impacts for mothers and infants, including lower rates of both preterm birth and low birth weight.
The national healthy people 2020 objective is to reduce the total lbw rate to no more than 7. In the united states, the rate of preterm births has. Nov 17, 2018 preterm birth born before 37 weeks of pregnancy and being small for gestational age, which are the reasons for low birth weight lbw, are also important indirect causes of neonatal deaths. This report presents country, regional and global estimates of low birth weight for 2000, together with a detailed description of the. Premature birth is a term for a baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Low birth weight causes, consequences and interventions. Low birth weight and very low birth weight are defined as follows. The problem of low birth weight improving birth outcomes. Low birth weight is a major cause of infant mortality and is associated with greater childhood illness and such developmental disorders as cerebral palsy,deafness,blindness,epilepsy. A low birth weight baby can be born too small, too early premature, or both.
Preterm birth and low birthweight are among the leading causes of infant death in the u. Risk factors for low birth weight and preterm birth context. Preterm birth is the most common cause of low birth weight in both developed and developing countries. Lbw rates are higher among lower income groups, among infants born to short statured parents, in primipara and those with four or more children. Top 12 causes of low birth weight in babies being the parent. Babies born prematurely before 37 completed weeks of gestation face increased risks of wideranging health complications and longterm disabilities, including but not limited to developmental delays. 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. Premature birth is one of the most common causes of low birthweight. Akibis health indicator report low birth weight infants.
The two main causes of low birth weight are preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction. Ensuring healthy births through prenatal support center. The analysis in this chapter is limited to singleton one baby births. For live births, birthweight should preferably be measured within the first hour of life, before significant postnatal weight loss has occurred. Low birth weight and very low birth weight child health usa 2012. Low birth weight description birth weight is the first weight of a baby, taken after he or she is born. Pattern of maternal complications and low birth weight. Learn about the causes, risks and healthrelated effects of low birthweight. Akibis complete health indicator report low birth weight. A greater incidence of developmental problems related to school achievement, in the area of attention deficit, was also found among 6yearold children who were born low birth weight compared to normal weight children breslau, 1996. Low birth weight and preterm birth maternal and child. Birth and developmental correlates of birth weight in a sample of children with potential sensory processing disorder simone v gill1, teresa a maybenson2,3, alison teasdale2,3 and elizabeth g munsell1 abstract background. Analysis of low birth weight and its covariants in bangladesh based. The same proportion of fi rst and second infants were lowbirthweight 12%, but second births were more.
Most extremely low birt h weight infants are also the. Low birth weight lbw, by ruralurban residence, 2009 residence percent of live births. Premature birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy and fetal growth restriction are the most common causes of low birthweight. National, regional, and worldwide estimates of low. A greater incidence of developmental problems related to school achievement, in the area of attention deficit, was also found among 6yearold children who were born lowbirth weight compared to normalweight children breslau, 1996. Low birth weight lbw remains a leading global cause of childhood. Who care of the preterm and lowbirthweight newborn. 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. Predictors of having a lowbirthweight second infant or a preterm second birth were identifi ed using logistic regression. Normal weight at term delivery is 25004200 g 5 pounds 8.
After his initial findings a myriad of diseases have been found to be linked to low birth weight and undernutrition in utero and in the neonatal period. Statewide, the number of infants born at very low birthweight was 5,445 in 2016 and accounted for 1. Low birth weight lbw infants experience severe health and developmental difficulties. The influence of stress on birth weight is relevant because birth weight is a marker of early health status, and it has effects on development and wellbeing throughout childhood and adulthood conley et al. This can happen for many different reasons which may or may not be related. Low birth weight and preterm birth are leading causes of infant mortality mathews and macdorman.
Weight classification cutoff value low birth weight lbw birth weight d efined as low birth weight vlbw birth weight defined as low birth weight and the environment. The percentage of california infants born at low birthweight rose steadily from 6. Longterm implications of being born low birth weight lbw. When comparing the four major racesethnicities, african american babies in 20 have the highest rate of low birth weight births at 12. Newborns who weigh less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, are classified as being of low birth weight lbw. Low birth weight is the leading cause of infant and child mortality and contributes to several poor health outcomes. Sixtyseven percent of all low birth weight babies are premature births. Low birthweight is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. 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. Although reliable data on the magnitude and global distribution of low birth weight lbw, birth weight birt h weight infants are also the. Low birth weight is a newborn birth weight less than 2,500 grams 5 lbs.
A low birth weight infant can be born too small, too early, or both. Lbw, a marker for fetal underdevelopment, has been linked to a variety of. The societal economic cost medical, educational and lost productivity is estimated for 2005 as in. Data for low birth weight infants calculated by maternal and child health epidemiology unit mchepi, section of womens, childrens and family health. Lbw infants are at risk of short and long term morbidities. Determinants of low birth weight among deliveries at a. The costs of low birth weight infants born at low birth weight.
Birth and developmental correlates of birth weight in a. The two main causes for a baby to be born at a low birth weight are premature birth and intrauterine growth restrictions iugr. Infants born at low birth weight less than 2,500 grams or 5. Volume 41, number 2, june 2009 101 second births to teenage mothers. An extremely low birth weight elbw infant is defined as one w ith a birth weight of less than 2 lb or 3 oz or 1kg or 2. Low birth weight and preterm birth narrative disorders related to low birth weight lbw and preterm birth ptb are a leading cause of infant mortality in the united states, and particularly neonatal mortality deaths within the first month of life. All these infants have a higher mortality risk than infants who do not have lbw. After his initial findings a myriad of diseases have been found to be linked to low birth weight and undernutrition in utero and in the neonatal. Very low birth weight has been linked to longterm abnormalities in brain development, as measured by mri at age 8 and 12. Newborns who weigh less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, are classified as being of lowbirth weight lbw.
Low birthweight is defined as less than 2,500 grams up to and including 2,499 grams. Some lowbirthweight babies are healthy, but others have serious health problems that need treatment. Birth certificate data updated by havrs on may 22, 2019 sas analysis in may 2019. Majority of indian low birth weight lbw infants are mature born after 37 weeks of gestation. Teenagers are more likely than older women to have a lowbirthweight infant or a preterm birth, and the risks may be particularly high when they have a second birth. A related category, small for gestational age sga, is sex specific and includes children who are less than the 10th percentile for birth weight and gestational age. Birthweight is the first weight of the newborn obtained after birth. Low birth weight causes, consequences and interventions to. Low birthweight is the percentage of live births where the infant weighed less than 2,500 grams approximately 5 lbs. Birth certifi cate data for 19932002 were linked to identify second births to milwaukee teenagers. Low birth weight and very low birth weight child health.
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