Lbw

Low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) are considered as one of the global health issues worldwide. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community show remarkably higher rate of low birth weight and small for gestational age than non-Indigenous Australians. When mothers and babies are exposed to many risk factors, they negatively affect the fetal development, gestational period and their health. Low birth weight and small for gestational age are associated with adverse health outcomes such as fetal and neonatal death, physical and mental issues as well as the development of chronic diseases in a long term (AIHW, 2014). The aim of this essay is to determine the risk factors and health outcomes of low birth
The authors investigated the incidence of serious health issues of low birth weight in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. There was a total of 852 adult participants from Indigenous community and 236 participants had low birth weight when they were born. The authors found that some of the low birth weight group had experienced chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension or high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 2 types of diabetes (T2D). They determined that participants in the low birth weight group had a risk of hypertension more as twice as much than other participants who were born with normal birth weight. 68 participants had experienced hypertension in the low birth weight group. Also, 202 participants in the low birth weight group answered that they had cardiovascular disease in their life. Participants in the low birth weight group had a 94% increased risk of cardiovascular disease hospitalisation which is a higher rate than the normal birth group (Arnold et al, 2016). Therefore, low birth weight was a significantly higher risk of developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal and Torres Islander
Also, they need to provide the significant and accurate health information to Aboriginal and Torres Strait mothers and babies. Health counselling and education is one of the important obligations to teach Indigenous women why they need to quit smoking during gestation. Australian nurses and midwives should be responsible for giving an advice and support health care during pregnancy, labour and after birth to Indigenous mothers and newborns. Respecting and understanding the dignity, culture, values, and belief of Indigenous community is another important duty for well-developed communication (NHMRC, n.d). Therefore, the role of Australian nurses and midwives should be professionally competent to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait mothers and