Author Description

Reducing low birthweight has long been recognized as a global priority; yet today, no region in the world is on course to meet the 2025 World Health Assembly target to reduce the prevalence of low birthweight by 30 per cent. Further, the limited availability and varying quality of low birthweight data have made it challenging to track progress. The UNICEF-WHO Low Birthweight Estimates respond to this challenge by using model approaches to derive estimates, with the goal of improving data comparability across countries and years, and filling data gaps. In 2023, the low birthweight estimates were developed jointly alongside preterm birth estimates for the first time. Throughout the estimation process, technical support was provided by the Estimates Consultative Group, an advisory group comprised of global experts in preterm birth and low birthweight measurement, including obstetricians, neonatologists, statisticians, preterm birth researchers and programme staff.