THE SHARE of infants born with low birth weight in the Philippines rose to 18.6% in the 2023-2025 period, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.
Preliminary results of the PSA’s National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) showed that the proportion of infants with reported low birth weight increased from 15.4% in 2022. This was the highest level since the 20.7% recorded in 2008.
The PSA defines low birth weight as less than 2.5 kilograms, the most widely used indicator of poor fetal growth and maternal nutritional health during pregnancy.
By region, the highest rates were recorded in the Zamboanga Peninsula (23.8%), Eastern Visayas (22.5%) and Central Visayas (22.1%); while the lowest rate were recorded in the Cagayan Valley (12%), Bicol Region (12.1%) and Soccsksargen (14.8%).
Low birth weight was more prevalent among infants born to mothers aged 20 years old and below at 24.5%, against 22.2% among mothers aged 35 to 49 and 16.8% among those aged 20 to 24.
The rate was also higher in urban areas at 19.6%, compared with 17.5% in rural areas.
By educational attainment, it was most common among infants born to mothers with primary-level educational attainment (28.1%) and least common among infants born to mothers with college-level educational attainment (14.8%).
Across wealth groups, the incidence was highest in the middle quintile (22.3%) and lowest in the richest quintile (13.3%).
The survey also showed a higher prevalence among infants born to mothers who smoked cigarettes or tobacco (29.1%), compared with those whose mothers did not smoke (17.9%).
Meanwhile, the percentage of married women aged 15 to 49 years old who are able to make informed decisions on sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health inched up to 82.9% from 82.3% in 2022.
By region, the percentage of women exercising informed decision-making was highest in Central Visayas (88%), followed by Calabarzon (87.1%) and Central Luzon (86.9%). It was the lowest in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (54.6%), Zamboanga Peninsula (68.4%) and the Negros Island Region (74%).
The NDHS is conducted every three years and provides data to guide policies and programs to improve the health and development of Filipinos. — Aliyah Naomi Ngking