Question

Describe the effect of extremely low birth weight babies on the family and community. Consider short-term and long-term impacts, socioeconomic implications, the need for ongoing care, and comorbidities associated with prematurity. Explain how disparities relative to ethnic and cultural groups may contribute to low birth weight babies. Identify one support service within your community to assist with preterm infants and their families and explain how the service adequately addresses the needs of the community, or a population in your community. Provide the link to the resource in your post.

Answer 1

Low birth weight babies usually weigh less than 2.5kg

The effect of extremely low birth weight babies in the families are negative impact on the family,financial crisis to afford the medical expenses, emotional and psychological disturbances,difficulty to care for other siblings of the family,special attention to be given to this baby,restricting visitors to see the baby in order to prevent infection.

The impact in the community are social criticism, feeling pity for the parents or the family .The community has to develop organizations which are to be favourable to the children when they grow.

Short term impact

• Infection
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Hypothermia
• Poor feeding due to developmental delay
• Hypoglycemia
• Patent ductus arteriosis
• Mortality

Long term impact

• Neurological problem or neurodevelopmental delay
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Obesity

In certain ethnic and culture the LBW babies are families are stigmatized This may be due to lack of awareness,education,maternal health,medical facilities , diverse population, poor socioeconomic status or poverty has contributed to LBW babies,

American academy of paediatric, Local community center ,Low birth weight development center program provides education ,services to the parents of LBW

Low birth weight development center (LBWDC)is the widely used organizations in US.