Abstract
Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the main predictors of infant mortality. The global
incidence of LBW is around 17%, although estimates vary from 19% in the developing
countries (countries where it is an important public health problem) to 5–7% in the
developed countries. The incidence in Spain in the decade 1980–1989 was about 5.7%.
LBW is generally associated with situations in which uterine malnutrition is produced
due to alterations in placental circulation. There are many known risk factors, the
most important of which are socio-economic factors, medical risks before or during
gestation and maternal lifestyles. However, although interventions exist to prevent
many of these factors before and during pregnancy, the incidence of LBW has not decreased.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 11,
2004
Received in revised form:
December 9,
2003
Received:
September 11,
2003
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
