AFRICA Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2023: Statistics and Trends

3.3 PREVALENCE OF LOW BIRTHWEIGHT

Low birthweight is defined by WHO as weight at birth of less than 2 500 g (5.51 lbs) and can be caused by intrauterine growth restriction, prematurity or both. Low birthweight continues to be a significant public health problem globally and is associated with a range of both short- and long-term consequences such as foetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, impaired growth and cognitive development, as well as an increased risk of NCDs later in life (WHO, 2014).

The prevalence of low birthweight was 13.9 percent is Africa in 2020, slightly lower than the global estimate (FIGURE 22 and TABLE 13). Over the past two decades all subregions and countries (except Algeria, Central African Republic, Gabon, Liberia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles and Tunisia) achieved small progress in reducing the prevalence of low birthweight (FIGURES 22 and 23). Nevertheless, the prevalence of low birthweight is still high on the continent and the only small progress toward WHA 2030 target for this indicator was achieved between 2012 and 2020 in Western Africa, Central Africa and Eastern Africa subregions. Northern Africa and Southern Africa were off track or achieved no progress toward the target since 2012.^{2 2} See FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 2023. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum. Rome, FAO.

In 2020, the prevalence of low birthweight was above 10 percent in most countries in Africa, and specifically above the 15 percent level in 16 countries, with the highest of 23 percent recorded in Comoros. Low birthweight prevalence was approximately 10 percent or less in eight countries (Algeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tunisia and United Republic of Tanzania) (FIGURE 23).