ABSTRACT
The objective of the first part of this book is to establish birthweight as a measure of public health importance with major health and social policy implications. This chapter summarises the impact of birthweight on health in childhood. Birthweight as a key determinant of mortality in infancy and childhood is con sidered, followed by the relationship of birthweight to a range of neurodevelopmental, sensory and other health outcomes in childhood. Next, evidence for the impact of birthweight on cognitive function, school readiness and educational attainment is summarised. Finally factors related to socio-economic status and ethnicity that may act to modify birthweight effects are considered.
