NEWS
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- According to a study published in the Lancet Global Health,1 in 7 babies worldwide are born with a low birthweight.
- The study has said that more than 20 million babies are born with a low birthweight (less than 2500 g or 5.5 pounds) worldwide.Further,South Asia accounts for almost half of the world’s low birthweight live births with an estimated 9.8 million in 2015.
- The problem of low birthweight also remains substantial in high-income countries in Europe, North America, and Australia and New Zealand.
- The researchers were unable to arrive at national estimates for India because only partial data were available.However,India has made progress in improving newborn care by building 834 newborn care units in the last decade.
- Further,Worldwide low birthweight prevalence has fallen slightly from 17.5% in 2000 to 14.6% in 2015.But,the current rate of progress will still fall short of the WHO target of a 30% reduction in prevalence between 2012 and 2025.
- Low birthweight is due to being born too soon (preterm or before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or too small (growth restricted in utero) or both.
- The causes of Low birthweight include (a)maternal age (b)infections, (c)obesity or undernutrition (c)smoking and environmental exposures, (d)multiple pregnancies and (e)non-medically indicated Cesarean sections.




