Most common cause of low birth weight baby is -

Appeared in: UPPSC 2023

Explanation

Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as a birth weight of less than 2500 grams.
Premature birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, is the leading cause of LBW worldwide.
Infants born prematurely miss the final weeks of gestation, a period of rapid weight gain and development, which directly results in a lower birth weight.

Option A: While maternal infections can lead to low birth weight, they do so by causing either preterm labor or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). They are an underlying risk factor, not the single most common direct cause.
Option B: Severe maternal anemia can impair oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus, causing IUGR and subsequently low birth weight. However, it is a less frequent cause of LBW compared to prematurity.
Option D: Maternal diabetes, particularly poorly controlled gestational diabetes, is classically associated with fetal macrosomia (high birth weight), which is the opposite of low birth weight. This is due to fetal hyperinsulinemia acting as a growth hormone.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Etiology of Low Birth Weight (LBW) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in antenatal care by identifying mothers at risk for preterm labor and implementing preventive strategies.
The nursing care of an LBW infant is complex, focusing on thermoregulation (preventing hypothermia), nutritional support (addressing feeding difficulties), and vigilant monitoring for complications like respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, and infection.
What if? If the question asked for the most common cause of asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction, the answer would likely be a maternal vascular condition like preeclampsia or chronic hypertension, as these affect placental blood flow late in gestation.

How to Approach the Question

First, define the key term in the question: 'Low birth weight' (a weight less than 2500g).
Recall the two primary mechanisms that result in a baby being born small: being born too early (prematurity) or not growing sufficiently in the womb (intrauterine growth restriction - IUGR).
Evaluate the given options to determine which is the most direct and prevalent cause.
Recognize that 'Premature birth' is a direct cause, while 'Infection' and 'Anemia' are underlying risk factors that can lead to prematurity or IUGR.
Eliminate 'Diabetes' as it is most commonly associated with high birth weight (macrosomia).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 463-465

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 31-33

Practise the full UPPSC 2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.