Austerity policies 'linked to rise in small and premature babies'

The introduction of 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.

- Linda Geddes

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.

Dr David Walsh, a senior lecturer in health inequalities at the University of Glasgow, who led the study, said: "Babies that are born premature and 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.

"Austerity also hasn't gone away, therefore the new UK Labour government needs to understand this evidence and try to protect the poorest populations, rather than putting them under more pressure."

The link between maternal stress and adverse birth outcomes is well established. Studies have identified an increase in prematurity and low birth weight babies after terror attacks or stressful employment.