Title: Prematurity and Low Birth Weight | Urban Child Institute
Headings: Prematurity and Low Birth Weight
Prematurity and Low Birth Weight
Prematurity and low birth weight can disrupt children’s development.
The prevalence of low birth weight is slightly higher in Shelby County than across Tennessee.
Medical advances and access to neonatal care are helping more at-risk babies survive.
Preterm birth and low birth weight can have serious and long-term negative consequences.
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The effects of low birth weight and prematurity are costly for families and for our community as a whole.
Intervention Strategies to Combat the Adverse Outcomes of Prematurity and Low Birth Weight
Early Intervention in Tennessee
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Content: A meta-review of 15 research studies concluded that premature birth (less than 37 weeks gestational age) is associated with poorer health and social/emotional functioning measured at preschool age, in adolescence, and in young adulthood. 10
Extremely preterm infants (less than 29 weeks gestational age) are at increased risk for childhood impairments in brain function due to brain injury and disruptions in early brain development. 4
Extremely preterm infants have a high risk (30-50%) of moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disabilities. 11
Low birth weight has also been linked to a wide range of negative outcomes: Children born at moderately low birth weight (1500-2499g) are more likely than normal birth weight children to have special healthcare needs, including regular use of medication, above-average use of health services, and limitations on activity. 12
Very low birth weight babies (less than 1500g) are at increased risk for chronic conditions such as respiratory problems, poor postnatal growth, cerebral palsy, and infections. 13, 14 These conditions increase the need for special education and services. 15
Very low birth weight has been linked to long-term abnormalities in brain development, as measured by MRI at age 8 and 12. 16
About 14% of very low birth weight children and 19% of extremely low birth weight children (less than 1000g) have below-average IQs. 17, 18
Some effects of low birth weight have been shown to persist into adulthood.