Low birth-weight paradox
Low birth-weight paradox
The Low birth-weight paradox (pronunciation: loʊ bɜːrθ-weɪt pærədɒks) is a phenomenon observed in medical and epidemiological research.
Etymology
The term "Low birth-weight paradox" is derived from the observation that infants with low birth weight, despite having higher mortality rates overall, seem to have lower mortality rates than normal-weight infants when born to mothers of certain high-risk groups.
Definition
Low birth weight refers to a birth weight of an infant of 2,499 g or less, regardless of gestational age. The paradox refers to the unexpected finding that, in some populations, low birth-weight infants born to high-risk mothers (such as smokers or older mothers) have a lower risk of infant mortality than low birth-weight infants born to low-risk mothers.
Related Terms
- Infant mortality: The death of an infant before his or her first birthday.
- Epidemiology: The study and analysis of the distribution, patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.
- Gestational age: The age of an unborn baby, usually dated from the first day of an expectant mother's last menstrual cycle.
- Maternal smoking: The act of smoking by a mother during pregnancy, which can result in multiple adverse effects to the baby, including low birth weight.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Low birth-weight paradox
- Wikipedia's article - Low birth-weight paradox
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