UK austerity policies increased rate of premature and low birth weight babies'

"The introduction of UK austerity policies has been associated with a striking increase in the number of babies in Scotland being born smaller or earlier than expected."

"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."

"Babies that are born premature and at 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."

"Studies in several European countries, including Portugal and Greece, have also linked the introduction of austerity measures and household poverty to worsening birth outcomes."

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