According to World Health Organisation, "low birth weight" means a weight of less than?

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Delhi-2015

Explanation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a standard definition for Low Birth Weight (LBW) to uniformly identify at-risk infants globally.
According to this international agreement, a birth weight of less than 2500 grams (2.5 kg) is classified as LBW.
This definition applies irrespective of the infant's gestational age.
The cutoff of 2.5 kg is a crucial indicator for predicting neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Option A: A weight of 2.8 kg falls within the normal birth weight range (2.5 kg to 3.99 kg).
Option B: A weight of 2.7 kg is also considered a normal birth weight, as it is above the 2.5 kg threshold.
Option D: While 2.3 kg is an example of a low birth weight, it is not the specific cutoff point defined by the WHO. The official definition is any weight less than 2.5 kg.

Visual 1: Chart: Birth Weight Classification - A visual chart showing the different categories (ELBW, VLBW, LBW, Normal, Macrosomia) with their corresponding weight ranges in grams and kilograms. This helps in quick identification and risk stratification.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain WHO definition of Low Birth Weight (LBW) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must accurately weigh newborns within the first hour of life to identify LBW infants promptly.
LBW is a critical risk factor. Nurses must closely monitor these infants for signs of hypothermia, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress, and infection.
What if? If an infant's birth weight is 1400g, they are classified as Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW). This escalates their risk profile significantly, requiring immediate transfer to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for specialized care, including potential respiratory support and parenteral nutrition.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on a standard international definition.
Identify the key terms in the question: 'World Health Organisation' and 'low birth weight'.
Recall the specific numerical value associated with this definition.
The WHO defines low birth weight as a weight of less than 2500 grams.
Convert 2500 grams to kilograms, which is 2.5 kg.
Compare this value with the given options and select the one that matches.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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