Unequal at birth : Inequalities in the occurrence of low birthweight babies in Ireland

Abstract

The proportion of babies who are born low birthweight (weighing less than 2500 grams) is a marker of overall population health. Low birthweight is a major public health concern, primarily because babies who are born low birthweight are at a greatly increased risk of death in the first week and the first year of life. Furthermore, low birthweight is associated with a number of adverse developmental, educational, behavioural and socio-economic outcomes in childhood, adolescence and later life. In Ireland, inequalities in health outcomes between the richest and the poorest members of Irish society have been highlighted as an important aspect of poverty. The Working Group of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) and Health has included low birthweight in one of three core targets to reduce health inequalities in Ireland. The target states that: The gap in low birthweight rates between children from the lowest and the highest socio-economic groups should be reduced by 10% from the 2001 level, by 2007. ...