Smoking is also a risk. Further, those in their third pregnancy and onwards have a higher risk of bearing premature babies. This is where family planning plays a necessary role because multiple pregnancy also increases the rate of prematurity by 26 percent. The BDRU has seen that of all deliveries. 3 percent of the babies are born with external abnormalities which contribute to lifelong morbidity.
Birth weight is another significant factor.
2954 grams It is seen that the Tamil babies largely born of plantation mothers, have the lowest value in birth weight. Obviously nutrition or education may be less, but as Dr. Chintake Nimesh Malavige of the BDRU says, there may also be a genetic component here as this group is socially isolated from the rest of the country. Also, birth weights are lower when relatives marry. All in all Sri Lankan birth weights are about 400 grams lower than the western counterparts and Dr. Malavige says there is a need to establish norms for Sri Lankan birth weights. This must be done while the mother is young and at least three months before pregnancy.