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Weighting of risk factors for low birth weight: a linked routine data cohort study in Wales, UK

Amrita Bandyopadhyay1, Hope Jones2, Michael Parker2

  • 1National Centre for Population Health and Wellbeing Research, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, West Glamorgan, UK A.Bandyopadhyay@swansea.ac.uk.

BMJ Open
|February 10, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Globally, millions of babies are born with low birth weight (LBW). This study identified key modifiable risk factors, including maternal health and smoking, to inform strategies for reducing LBW prevalence in Wales.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Maternal and Child Health

Background:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) affects approximately 20 million newborns annually worldwide.
  • Identifying modifiable risk factors is crucial for developing effective interventions to reduce LBW prevalence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the contribution of modifiable risk factors to LBW in a large, nationally representative Welsh cohort.
  • To inform public health strategies aimed at reducing LBW.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal cohort study utilizing linked administrative data from Wales (1998-2018).
  • Inclusion of 693,377 children and their mothers from the National Community Child Health Database.
  • Analysis using multivariable logistic regression (MLR) and decision tree (DT) models to identify risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Non-singleton births, short pregnancy intervals, and maternal health conditions (diabetes, anemia, depression, anxiety, serious mental illness) significantly increased LBW risk.
  • Maternal smoking, alcohol misuse, substance misuse, and domestic abuse were identified as key risk factors.
  • Living in less deprived areas was associated with a lower risk of LBW.

Conclusions:

  • Interventions should prioritize improving maternal physical and mental health, ensuring adequate pregnancy spacing, and supporting maternal well-being.
  • Reducing preterm births and addressing socioeconomic factors like deprivation are essential for lowering LBW rates.
  • Public health resources should focus on a multi-faceted approach targeting identified modifiable risk factors.
Abstract

Keywords:
EPIDEMIOLOGYPUBLIC HEALTHSTATISTICS & RESEARCH METHODS

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