Lbw accounts for most deaths in the first year of life, and lbw rates have remained consistently elevated, as has the blackwhite disparity in birth outcomes 1, 2. Preterm birth remains a crucial issue in child mortality and improving quality of maternal and newborn care. Low birth weight 2500 g or less constitutes a major public health problem. Low birthweight is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Low birth weight infants are those born weighing less than 2500 g. Low birth weight article about low birth weight by the. But a low birth weight baby can also have many serious health problems. Low birth weight is a leading cause of neonatal mortality death before 28 days of age. Full text full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Below normal birth weight in the northwest part of ethiopia. Introduction birth weight is the single most important determinant of chances of child survival, healthy growth and development. Survival data for infants born at ucsf from 19982002 inclusive are. Low birth weight is more common in developing than developed.
Global alliance to prevent prematurity and stillbirth. Low birth weight may result from an early birth but also from fetal growth restriction, i. Low birth weight definition of low birth weight by the free. 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. 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. Preterm birth and low birth weight maternal and child. Babies with low birth weight neonatology jama jama.
Low birth weight has been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, but the risk at high birth weight levels remains uncertain. Mar 31, 2017 number of babies born low birthweight less than 2500 grams. 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. Grading birth weight grade 2500 2000 gm low birth weight 2000 gm very low birth weight definition in order to make international comparisons more easily. Since the first world health assembly in 1948, the international definition of prematurity based on birth weight.
Low birth weight lbwbabies are grouped as preterm short gestation and small for agedate sfad term infants. Most extremely low birth weight infants are also the youngest of premature newborns, usually born at 27 weeks gestational age or younger. 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. Very preterm, preterm, very low birth weight, and low birth. If elbw babies survive, they are at elevated risk for neurological abnormalities, hearing and visual impairment, and developmental delay in infancy. An extremely low birth weight elbw infant is defined as one with a birth weight of less than g 2 lb, 3 oz. Global, regional, and national estimates of levels of. For live births, birthweight should preferably be measured within the first hour of life, before significant postnatal weight loss has occurred.
Preterm birth born before 37 weeks of pregnancy and being small for gestational age, which are the reasons for lowbirthweight lbw, are also important indirect causes of neonatal deaths. A crosssectional study from march 1 to april 1, 2018 was conducted. Low birth weight is defined by the world health organization who as weight at birth less than 2500 g 5. A baby born very prematurely weighing between 401 and grams about 14 to 35 ounces at birth. Low birth weight lbw is recognized as one of the primary factors contributing to racialethnic disparities as the africanamerican lbw rate has been at least twice the corresponding rate for whites for decades united states department of health and human services, 2000. Survival of vlbw babies is directly related to birth weight. Although reliable data on the magnitude and global distribution of low birth weight lbw, birth weight definition, an infant is considered to have a low birth weight if their weight at birth is less than 2500 grams 5. Infant low birth weight is a term used to describe babies who are born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces 2,500 grams. Jun 16, 2015 introduction birth weight is the single most important determinant of chances of child survival, healthy growth and development. 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.
Low birth weight refers to babies who weigh less than 5. Low birth weight definition of low birth weight by. Low birth weight synonyms, low birth weight pronunciation, low birth weight translation, english dictionary definition of low birth weight. Overweight and obesity in mothers and risk of preterm. The global health agency has warned that the number of underweight babies are increasing. Africanamerican women were about twice as likely as nonhispanic. Birth weight low birthweight lbw of less than 2500 g is an important marker of maternal and fetal health, predicting mortality, stunting, and adultonset chronic conditions. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article m, or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Some low birthweight babies are healthy, but others have serious health problems that need treatment. Incidence of low birth weight among newborns measure. As the etiologies of these distinct types of low birth weight deliveries are different, it became more widely accepted to separate prematurity into two categories, i. Birth weight g survival 500750 74% 7511,000 82% 1,0011,250 92% 1,2511,500 95% longterm outcome. Extremely low birth weight elbw babies are at the lower limits of viability.
Cost of hospitalization for preterm and low birth weight. Infants who weigh less than 2,500 g are considered low birth weight babies. This research will hopefully identify new interventions to reduce premature births worldwide. 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. If elbw babies survive, they are at elevated risk for neurological abnormalities, hearing and visual impairment, and.
Pdf mothers lifestyle characteristics impact on her. In humans, the first weight of an infant obtained within less than the first 60 completed minutes after birth. In the united states, the rate of low birth weight lbw has retained a striking influence on health outcomes over several decades. Birthweight definition of birthweight by medical dictionary. Pdf 985 kb describing the increase in preterm births in the united. 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. Being below normal birth weight is the greater risk for different severe and lifethreatening health complications. Low birth weight definitions and methodology following the world health organization who definition, an infant is considered to have a low birth weight if their weight at birth is less than 2500 grams 5. Low birth weight definition of low birth weight by the. This low birth weight development center parent graduate was once a struggling teen mother of a highrisk extremely low birth weight baby born under 3 lbs. Low birth weight article about low birth weight by the free. The objective of this study was to estimate national hospital costs for infant admissions that are associated with preterm birthlow birth weight. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of low birth weight in the northwest part of ethiopia.
Purpose to research the origins of the 2500 g cutoff for low birth weight and the evolution of indicators to identify newborns at high mortality risk. Global nutrition targets set at the world health assembly in 2012 include an ambitious 30% reduction in lbw prevalence between 2012 and 2025. The dependent variable was the 19921994 average lbw rate a continuous variable, defined as singleton infants born weighing less than 2,500 grams or 5. This definition is objective and subject to standardization in contrast to a classification based on estimates of gestational age which are dependent upon the. Worldwide, approximately 90% of lbw infants are born in developing countries. She benefited from the parenting and educational programs and resources available to her at the low birth weight development center. Description early research concluded prematurity, measured mainly through birth weight, was responsible for increased health risks. 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.
National, regional, and worldwide estimates of low. Stoll, in infectious diseases of the fetus and newborn infant sixth edition, 2006. Race, ethnicity, concentrated poverty, and low birth weight. The first weight of the fetus or baby obtained after birth. Low birth weight any infant with a birth weight of less than 2. The 30 million low birth weight babies born annually 23. Low birth weight definition of low birth weight by medical. Overall, it is estimated that 15% to 20% of all births worldwide are low birth. Low birth weight is a major determinant of mortality, morbidity and disability in infancy and childhood and also has a longterm impact on health outcomes in adult life. Birthweight is the first weight of the newborn obtained after birth. Pdf preterm and low birth weight babies researchgate.
Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity and childhood morbidity7 followed by low birth weight. Mothers lifestyle characteristics impact on her neonates low birth weight article pdf available in international journal of womens health and reproduction sciences 24. This definition is objective and subject to standardization in contrast to a classification based on estimates of gestational age which are dependent upon the mothers. The world health organization further defines the following categories. Low birth weight infants who survive the neonatal first 28 days and. Countries with fewer incidence of lbw, preterm is the cause in countries like india, where the. Low birthweight lbw of less than 2500 g is an important marker of maternal and fetal health, predicting mortality, stunting, and adultonset chronic conditions. The problem of low birth weight improving birth outcomes.
A low birth weight baby may be healthy even though he or she is small. Epidemiological determinants of low birth weight in ahmedabad city. Low birth weight rates were averaged over three years to decrease the instability that may be caused by rates for racialethnic groups in smaller msas laveist, 1992. Low birthweight is defined as less than 2,500 grams up to and including 2,499 grams. The 30 million lowbirthweight babies born annually 23. See also tables of weights and measures in the appendix. Very low and extremely low birthweight infants introduction and definitions.
Low birthweight definition of low birthweight by the free. The world health organizations original prematurity definition was birth weight. Information and translations of low birth weight in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Learn about the causes, risks and healthrelated effects of low birthweight. They note that although the use of art results in a higher rate of multiple birth, which carries a high risk of low birth weight, art itself does not seem to increase that risk. Low birthweight definition of low birthweight by the. Number of babies born low birthweight less than 2500 grams. Very low birth weight article about very low birth. Babies with low birth weight neonatology jama jama network.
Girls giving birth below the age of 16 or women who do so after the age of 40 are at risk of getting low birthweight babies, the world health organisation has warned. Premature birth is one of the most common causes of low birthweight. The objective of this study was to estimate national hospital costs for infant admissions that are associated with preterm birth low birth weight. Who care of the preterm and lowbirthweight newborn. Preterm birth and low birth weight vary by race and ethnicity, with rates typically highest among infants born to nonhispanic black women. The authors estimate that conception using art accounted for fewer than 1% of all infants born in 1997 to women aged 20 or older, but for 34% of those with low or very low birth weight. Aug 25, 2018 low birth weight is one of the global agendas that have an impact on the short and longterm health status. To better understand the epidemiology of preterm birth, the quality and volume of data needs to be improved, including standardisation of definitions, measurement, and reporting. Low birth weight lbw is one of the reliable indicators and monitoring parameters of maternal and child health programs. Links to pubmed are also available for selected references. Vlbw and elbw infants are at risk for cerebral palsy.
Premature birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy and fetal growth restriction are the most common causes of low birthweight. Lbw contributes to 60% to 80% of all neonatal deaths. Low birth weight continues to be a significant public health problem globally and is associated with a range of both short and long term consequences. According to the world health organization who definition, lbw considered if weight at birth less than 2500 g. At population level, the proportion of infants with a low birth weight is an indicator of a multifaceted public health problem that includes longterm maternal malnutrition, ill health, hard work and poor health care in pregnancy. Race, ethnicity, concentrated poverty, and low birth. Very low birth weight refers to babies who weigh less than 3.
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