Preventing low birthweight

Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Committee to Study the Prevention of Low Birthweight., Committee to Study the Prevention of Low Birthweight, Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Low birthweight (LBW) is a major determinant of infant mortality in the US. Infants weighing 5.5 pounds or less are almost 40 times more likely to die during their 1st 4 weeks of life than the normal birthweight infant. Additionally, LBW survivors are at increased risk of health problems. To determine whether opportunities exist to reduce the incidence of LBW in the US, the Institute of Medicine convened an interdisciplinary committee in 1983 to study the causes and prevention of premature birth and intrauterine growth retardation, the twin contributors to LBW. The committee was asked to define those measures likely to be most effective in preventing LBW and to consider their costs in relation to the costs of caring for such infants. The committee concluded that the prevention of LBW could contribute significantly to a reduction in infant mortality in the US and, more generally, to...

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