UK austerity policies increased rate of premature and low birth weight babies

The introduction of UK austerity policies has been associated with a striking increase in the number of babies in Scotland being born smaller or earlier than expected, data suggests. Researchers believe cuts to social security benefits and services are key to understanding these trends, which have hit families living in the poorest neighbourhoods the hardest. “Babies that are born premature and at low birth weight are themselves at considerably higher risk of a whole set of adverse outcomes in later childhood and adulthood, so the effects will be felt for years to come,” said Dr David Walsh, a senior lecturer

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