Peer-reviewed article
Low birth weight: epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention strategies. A narrative review
Maikro Osvaldo Chávez Moya, Leodanis Hernández Cabrera, Laura Beatriz Fernández Feitó, Lauren Beatriz González Claro, Neisy Pérez Ramos et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This narrative review describes what is known about low birth weight, defined as a weight below 2500 grams at birth. It covers how common it is, how it arises, the maternal risk factors, and ways to detect, manage and prevent it. The authors report that it affects 14.7% of live births worldwide and arises through two pathways: prematurity and restricted growth in the womb. They conclude that many of the causes can be modified and that preventive strategies need to be scaled up to meet World Health Organization reduction targets.
Key points
- Low birth weight is defined as below 2500 grams in live newborns.
- It affects 14.7% of live births worldwide.
- It arises from two pathways: prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction.
- Maternal nutritional, metabolic, toxic and infectious determinants are largely modifiable.
- Antenatal ultrasound and Doppler surveillance, with standardized neonatal care protocols, help reduce immediate and long-term complications.
Limitations
This is a narrative review, so it does not test any single intervention, and the abstract does not describe how studies were selected or appraised. It names no specific countries or regions, so it cannot tell us about local patterns.
Abstract
Introduction: Low birth weight, defined as a weight below 2500 grams in live newborns, is a fundamental indicator of maternal and child health and a predictor of neonatal morbidity and mortality with consequences throughout the entire life course. Objective: To comprehensively describe the current state of knowledge on low birth weight, covering its epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, maternal risk factors, and strategies for detection, management, and prevention. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted through searches in PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and Google Scholar, using the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) “low birth weight infant,” “premature birth,” “fetal growth retardation,” and “risk factors,” complemented with clinical practice guidelines and technical documents from the World Health Organization. Development: Low birth weight affects 14.7% of live births worldwide and arises from two pathophysiological pathways—prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction—driven by largely modifiable maternal nutritional, metabolic, toxic, and infectious determinants. Antenatal ultrasound and Doppler surveillance, together with standardized neonatal care protocols, help mitigate its immediate and long-term complications. Conclusions: Low birth weight is a critical factor for neonatal survival and human development. Translating the accumulated scientific knowledge into scalable preventive strategies is necessary to achieve the reduction targets set by the World Health Organization.