Low birth weight in South Asian babies in Britain: time to reduce the inequalities.
Babies born in Britain to women of South Asian ethnic origin are lighter on average than the offspring of women of European origin. The causes have been incompletely elucidated but nutritional factors, low socioeconomic status and maternal pre-pregnancy weight have been implicated. This health inequality has received little policy prioritization in Britain. As further research clarifies reasons for this differential, appropriately targeted preventive strategies need to be implemented.
Oldroyd
John
J
Clinical Epidemiology Group, Manchester University Medical School, Oxford Rd, Manchester University, M139PT, UK. john.oldroyd@deakin.edu.au
D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011634:Public Health; D012923:Social Class; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology