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Birth weight and health and developmental outcomes in US children, 1997-2005

Sheree L Boulet1, Laura A Schieve, Coleen A Boyle

  • 1National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D02, Atlanta, GA, 30333. USA, sboulet@cdc.gov

Maternal and Child Health Journal
|November 11, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Children with normal birth weights between 2,500-2,999g had higher risks for developmental disabilities and special education services compared to those born 3,500-3,999g. This highlights the need to study the full birth weight spectrum for developmental outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Birth weight is a critical factor influencing child development and health outcomes.
  • Previous research has primarily focused on the risks associated with low and very low birth weight.
  • The full spectrum of birth weight and its association with developmental disabilities requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between the complete distribution of birth weight and the prevalence of developmental disabilities (DDs) in US children.
  • To assess the association between birth weight categories and the utilization of health services and special education.
  • To identify specific DDs and service utilization patterns across various birth weight ranges.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the 1997-2005 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Sample Child Core, including 87,578 children aged 3-17.
  • Analyzed parent-reported birth weight and information on developmental disabilities and health service utilization.
  • Calculated adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for demographic factors to determine associations between birth weight and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • A trend of decreasing disability prevalence with increasing birth weight was observed, up to a plateau.
  • Children with birth weights of 2,500-2,999g showed higher odds for mental retardation, cerebral palsy, learning disability, ADHD, and other developmental delays compared to those weighing 3,500-3,999g.
  • Increased likelihood of receiving special education services was also noted in the 2,500-2,999g birth weight group.

Conclusions:

  • Findings indicate that even children with 'normal' birth weights within the 2,500-2,999g range face elevated risks for certain developmental disabilities and special education needs.
  • The study suggests that a continuous examination of the full birth weight distribution, not just extremes, is crucial for understanding developmental outcomes.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the continuous relationship between birth weight and child health and developmental trajectories.

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