The low birth weight rate in Korea.
- Author:
Jung Ju LEE
1
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. mljj@naver.com
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Korea;
low birth weight infant;
Incidence
- MeSH:
Delivery of Health Care;
Developed Countries;
Developing Countries;
Humans;
Incidence;
Infant;
Infant, Low Birth Weight;
Infant, Newborn;
Korea;
Parturition;
World Health Organization
- From:Korean Journal of Perinatology
2009;20(1):1-5
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Low birth weight has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as weight at birth of less than 2,500 g. This practical cut-off for international comparison is based on epidemiological observations that infants weighing less than 2,500 g are approximately 20 times more likely to die than heavier babies. The low birth weight rate is one of the most important indicators that represent the health care situation of a nation. The low birth weight rate for industrialized countries was around 7 percent, and in less developed countries it ranged between 5 and 33 percent, with an average of 17 percent. In Korea, low birth weight rate was presented between 4 and 9.8 percent. but I thought that the true low birth weight rate in Korea was around 5 percent recently.
