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Indicator name:
Low birthweight (prevalence)
Short name:
Low birthweight
Data type:
Percent
Indicator Id:
76
Topic:
Risk factors
Rationale:
At the population level, the proportion of babies with a low birth weight is an indicator of a multifaceted public-health problem that includes long-term maternal malnutrition, ill health, hard work and poor health care in pregnancy. On an individual basis, low birth weight is an important predictor of newborn health and survival.
Definition:
The percentage of newborns weighing less than 2 500 g (less than 5.51 lbs) at birth.
Associated terms:
Low birthweight is defined as a weight at birth of less than 2 500 g (less than 5.51 lbs), regardless of gestational age
M&E Framework:
Impact
Method of estimation:
Estimates of LBW prevalence at national level were predicted from a Bayesian multilevel-regression model (Okwaraji et. al, forthcoming). The model is fit on the logit (log-odds) scale to ensure that proportions are bounded between zero and one, and then back-transformed and multiplied by 100 to obtain prevalence estimates. Hierarchical random country-specific intercepts (countries within regions within global) accounted for the correlation within and between the regions. The six Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) regions were adapted and used in the modelling. Penalized splines were used as temporal smoothing across the time-series 26–28, meaning country level non-linear time trends were captured without random variation affecting the trend. Country-level covariates were also included in the modelling. The final covariates included in the model were: gross national income per person purchasing power parity (GNI) (constant 2017 international $), prevalence of underweight among female adults, adult female literacy rate, modern contraception prevalence rate and percentage urban population. For more details, please review the key findings brochure, available at https://www.who.int/teams/nutrition-and-food-safety/monitoring-nutritional-status-and-food-safety-and-events/joint-low-birthweight-estimates
Method of estimation of global and regional aggregates:
Regional estimates are weighted averages of the country data, using the number of live births for the reference year in each country as the weight. The number of live births is based on the United Nations Population Division’s 2022 World Population Prospects United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects 2022, Online Edition.
Preferred data sources:
Facility reporting system
Household surveys
Unit of Measure:
N/A
Expected frequency of data dissemination:
Every 5 years
Contact person email:
nfsdata@who.int
Name:
Monitoring Nutritional Status and Food Safety Events Unit, Department of Nutrition and Food Safety
Links:
Joint low birthweight estimates
Indicator Metadata Registry List
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