Low Birth Weight and Preterm Birth - Essay Example

Low Birth Weight and Preterm Birth Cultural and ethnic disparities usually lead to child low birth weight and, in some instances, preterm births. In communities where there is no adequate health education and awareness, expectant mothers may be engaged in prenatal malpractices such as drug abuse and poor clinic attendance. Such cases are very rampant in the remote settings where people still practice old traditions. For instance, in some rural areas in Africa and Asia, the expectant mothers usually obtain prenatal care from old women who act as midwives.

These traditional methods have left some aspects of prenatal care unattended, leading to complications such as low birth weight and premature births. In the urban areas, where there is no particular culture and traditions, the leading causes of low birth weight is the overindulgence in the modern cultures that allow women to smoke, drink alcohol and use other hard drugs. In the modern US, the expectant mothers have rights that protect from being tested of such drugs. The impacts of child low birth weight and preterm birth are spread across the affected families and national health care departments as a whole.

A mother who gives birth to a low weight child may, in most occasions, get anxious about the fate of the new born. A prolonged anxiety may lead to depression of the mother. She also has to provide extra care to the young baby as it deserves. If the premature baby is not well taken care of, it may suffer long term effects such as neurological disorders, cerebral palsy and breathing complications (CDC, 2005).The family will have to spend a lot of money in the care of premature baby. Most of such babies have to spend several days in hospitals as they mature under special care.

This might be costly to the family. Socially, the couples might not be able to maintain a healthy relationship due to emotional and economical constraints. According to a report by CDC, preterm birth made the US government to spend about $26 million in the Health Care system (2005). Center for Disease Control (CDC) is on of the organizations that reach my community in prenatal and infant care. It has been very effective in its consistent research aimed at improving the health of the infants in the community.

The link to this organization is www.cdc.gov. Another organization is Child Care Aware that has been very instrumental in helping expectant mothers in access quality child care and other necessary resources within the community. The link is www.childcareaware.com Reference Center for Disease Control. (2005). Preterm Births. NewYork, NY: CDC.