More Irish children are being born with low birth weight, a major new study has revealed.
The number of babies in Ireland with a low birth rate grew from 4.9% in 2000 to 5.9% in 2015, according to The Lancet Global Health.
This increase is against global trends, with all 195 countries in the World Health Organisation committed to a 30% reduction in low birth weights (LBW) by 2025.
LBW is defined as a birth weight of any infant of 2,499g or less, and can lead to an increased risk of health issues later in life.
The rate of the rise of LBW in Ireland is higher than in any high-income country except for Czechia.
Lead author of the report Dr Hannah Blencowe claimed government's aren't doing enough to tackle the issue.
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She said: “In low-income countries, poor growth in the womb is a major cause of low birth weight. In more developed regions, it is often associated with prematurity [a baby born earlier than 37 weeks’ gestation].
“Despite clear commitments, our estimates indicate that national governments are doing too little to reduce low birth weight.
“We have seen very little change over 15 years, even in high-income settings. To meet the global target of a 30 per cent reduction in low birth weight by 2025 will require more than doubling the pace of progress.”
