Low birthweight and impaired growth to 5 years in Australian Aborigines

Abstract
Twelve per cent of Aboriginal infants born in the Kimberly region of Western Australia in 1980 were of low birthweight; this is more than twice the incidence in the non-Aboriginal population of Western Australia. There was widespread faltering of growth (weight and height) after 6 months of age in Aboriginal children whether they were of normal or low birthweight. Growth retardation was more marked in low birthweight babies who showed little evidence of ''catch-up'' growth in the first 5 years of life.