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Deprivation blamed for under-weight babies in Welsh town

September 30, 2002

Healthcare professionals interviewed in a Staffordshire University survey have blamed a range of issues, including drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, stress, smoking, dietary ignorance and young mums with eating disorders, for the high number of underweight babies born in a deprived Welsh community.

Researcher Joan Ashdown-Lambert, of the University's Centre for Health Policy and Practice, conducted a geographical survey of Denbigshire in North Wales which investigated levels of low birth weight(1) in 16 post code areas.

This study revealed that in the Rhyl area the incidence of babies born with a low birth weight was as high as 9.9 per cent - significantly higher than the national Welsh average of 7.7 per cent and the English national statistic of 7 per cent.

In fact, recent statistics issued by the World Health Organisation show that Wales has a higher incidence of low birth weight than any other part of Europe and many parts of the developing world.

In response to these findings Ms Ashdown-Lambert developed her geographical study to investigate the underlying factors and questioned key healthcare workers in the Rhyl area, including GPs, health visitors, midwives, paediatricians and dietitians.

These front-line professions reported that stress associated with frequent family breakdown and teenagers leaving home at a very young age - with little or no adult support - were significant contributory factors to the high incidence of low birth weight. Other contributing factors included:

"¢ an increase in teenagers becoming pregnant - some as young as 12-years-old
"¢ mums who are severely affected by drug abuse problems and therefore less able to care for their children
"¢ a high proportion of parents who smoke, especially in the under-20 age group
"¢ an increase in the number of mums who have eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia
"¢ stress and depression caused by isolation, social exclusion and adverse living environments.

"The results have been shocking and are linked to the fact that these mums live in such deprivation," said Ms Ashdown-Lambert, who conducted this study as part of a doctoral thesis.

"They do not eat well, or sleep well and often live in environments, such as, flatlet accommodation, with inadequate cooking facilities, or in substandard bed and breakfast accommodation."

Ms Ashdown-Lambert said that low birth weight in infants has a huge impact on the child's long-term health and welfare. Many studies have found that fetal under-nutrition and fetal stress cause irreversible changes in the fetus, which have a major impact on child and adult health, such as, failure to thrive, obesity, impaired cognitive development, poor speech, and multiple behavioural problems.

The findings of the University study have attracted the attention of local MP Chris Ruane, of the National Assembly for Wales, and senior health ministers. The findings of this study are to be used as evidence in the national strategy for children with special needs currently being developed in Wales.

Ms Ashdown-Lambert has presented her preliminary findings to academics across the UK, and recently in Montreal, Canada, and the State of the Science Congress, at Washington DC. preliminary findings to academics across the UK, and recently in Montreal, Canada, and the State of the Science Congress, at Washington DC.

The findings of this study are also to be used as evidence in the national strategy for children with special needs currently being developed in Wales.

Staffordshire University