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Evidence · Systematic review or meta-analysis

The maternal factors associated with infant low birth weight: an umbrella review.

Systematic review or meta-analysisBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth2024Full text
  • Anaemia and transfusion
  • Growth
  • Jaundice and haematology
  • Medical
  • Nursing
  • Postnatal and transitional care

Summary

This umbrella review synthesises systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining maternal factors associated with infant low birth weight. It identifies risk factors including drug use, smoking, alcohol, caffeine, infertility, periodontal disease, depression, anaemia, underweight, hypertension, hypothyroidism and heavy physical workload, with antenatal care showing a protective association. The findings are primarily relevant to antenatal and perinatal prevention rather than neonatal management, but provide useful context for neonatal clinicians counselling families and understanding aetiology of low birth weight.

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