Study Links COVID-19 Pandemic to Lower Birth Weights in Indian Infants

The incidence of low birth weight rose sharply in India amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research from the University of Notre Dame.

The study co-authored by Santosh Kumar, associate professor of development and global health economics at Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, was published in Communications Medicine, a Nature series journal.

Globally, 1 in 4 newborns has a low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds), and the problem disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries — particularly in South Asia, home to approximately one-fourth of the world’s population.

The cross-sectional study used data from 198,203 infants across the country. Researchers used statistical models to compare birth outcomes between two periods: the pandemic period (April 2020-April 2021) and the pre-pandemic period (July 2014-December 2019). They adjusted the models for various factors such as the child's gender and birth order, the mother's age and education, etc.

The study revealed that infants born between April 2020 and April 2021 had lower birth weights compared to those born before the pandemic.

The findings showed that the prevalence of low birth weight increased to 20 percent in the pandemic group, up from 17 percent in the pre-pandemic group. Additionally, infants born during the pandemic weighed approximately four-tenths of an ounce less than their pre-pandemic counterparts.

Several pandemic-related factors may have influenced pregnant women's health behaviours, leading to lower birth weights. These factors include the SARS-CoV-2 virus, stress from social distancing, economic instability, and disruptions in maternal and neonatal care.

“This research shows that low birth weight became more common in India during the pandemic. We saw the exacerbation of a global health problem that affects educational outcomes and poverty rates. Children who have lower birth weight as infants often go on to struggle with school. The study highlights the need for targeted policies that reduce the incidence of low birth weights — for instance, ensuring that women have adequate nutrients and caloric intake during pregnancy and also have access to quality prenatal care,” said Santosh Kumar.

Reference: Kumar, S., Hill, C. & Halliday, T.J. Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on low birth weight in a nationwide study in India. Commun Med 4, 118 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00545-4