According to a study by Fabian Society, number of tiny babies born in UK is increasing. The researchers found that 78 out of every 1,000 babies were born weighing less than 2.5kg in 2006. In 1989, it was 67 out of every 1,000 babies.
This study has also urged the government to provide more financial support for at-risk women, better access to antenatal services and personalized care for all newborns in intensive care. According to the report older women and teenagers are more likely to have tiny babies. When nationalities are considered, Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin women are said to deliver under weight babies.The report states that lone parents were more likely to have a still birth. Similarly children born to working-class mothers were twice as likely to die before their first birthday when compared with their middle-class counterparts.
According to Louise Bamfield, lead researcher medical advances have enabled the survival of low birth weight babies but social deprivation and low income were also significant factors. A variety of health problems like diabetes, heart disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and depression have been associated with low-birth weight.
Source-Medindia
JYT
