Is birth weight a good indicator of health?
Birth weight for gestational age is found to be suitable as a health indicator at the local area level.
Why is low birth weight considered a risk factor?
LBW infants are 20 times more likely to develop complications and die in comparison to normal weight babies [3]. LBW babies are in the potential risk of cognitive deficits, motor delays, cerebral palsy, and other behavior and psychological problem [4–8].
How can birth outcomes determine the health status of a community?
Birth outcomes measures health at birth. These outcomes determine whether a child has a “healthy start,” or may have current and future health problems. Certain health conditions, social and economic factors, and behaviors can increase the risk of poor reproductive and birth outcomes.
What are the 3 categories of low birth weight?
Whether your baby was born premature or at term, they can be classified as LBW. A low birth weight baby will fall into one of three categories: Low birth weight (LBW): A LBW baby weighs less than 2500 grams, or 5 lbs 5 oz. Very low birth weight (VLBW): A VLBW baby weighs less than 1500 grams, or about 3 lb 9 oz.
What is considered extremely low birth weight?
A birthweight less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces) is diagnosed as low birthweight. Babies weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 4 ounces) at birth are considered very low birthweight.
Why is low birth weight important?
Low birthweight is a major determinant of infant mortality. Most infant deaths occur in the first month of life, or neonatal period. The majority of these deaths are a consequence of inadequate fetal growth as indicated by low birthweight (birthweight of 2,500 grams or less).
What does a low birth weight indicate?
Low birthweight is when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Some low-birthweight babies are healthy, but others have serious health problems that need treatment. Premature birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and fetal growth restriction are the most common causes of low birthweight.
Do low birth weight babies catch up?
Babies who weigh less than 1 pound, 1.5 ounces (500 grams) have the most problems and are much less likely to survive. Low-birth-weight babies typically catch up in physical growth if they have no other complications. Babies may need to have special follow-up healthcare programs.
What is considered a very low birth weight?
How does low birth weight affect the family?
Compared with parents of full-term controls, parents of children with birth weights less than 750 g reported lower perceptions of parenting competence, more difficulties related to child attachment, a more negative impact of the child’s health on the family, and higher rates of both child-related family stress and …
What does birth weight indicate?
A baby’s weight at birth is strongly associated with mortality risk during the first year and, to a lesser degree, with developmental problems in childhood and the risk of various diseases in adulthood. Epidemiological analyses often regard birthweight as on the causal pathway to these health outcomes.
What is low birth weight CDC?
LBW has been defined as a birth weight of less than 2,500 g. It can be caused either by premature delivery (short gestation) or by fetal growth retardation. In countries where the proportion of LBW infants is low, most are preterm.
What is considered a low birthweight?
Low birthweight has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as weight at birth of less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds). This is based on epide- miological observations that infants weighing less than 2,500 g are approximately 20 times more likely to die than heavier babies.
What is the birth weight of an infant?
The birth weight of an infant is the first weight recorded after birth, ideally measured within the first hours after birth, before significant postnatal weight loss has occurred. Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as a birth weight of less than 2500 g (up to and including 2499 g), as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
What does the 2021 County Health Rankings measure low birthweight?
The 2021 County Health Rankings used data from 2013-2019 for this measure. Low birthweight (LBW) represents multiple factors: infant current and future morbidity, as well as premature mortality risk, and maternal exposure to health risks. LBW serves as a predictor of premature mortality and/or morbidity. [1]
Is low birth weight a risk factor for neuropsychological problems?
Low birth weight, defined as birth weight less than 2,500 grams, is considered a marker for newborns at high risk for later neurological, psychiatric, and neuropsychological problems (Hack et al., 2005 ).