63% of world's small for gestational age newborns in southern Asia: Lancet report

Southern Asia accounts for nearly two-thirds of the world's small for gestational age (SGA) newborns - babies born too small, according to a paper published in the Lancet. The paper said the region has higher rates of preterm birth than the global average and very high rates of SGA and accounts for 26·8 per cent of global live births, but 63 per cent of all small vulnerable newborns (SVNs).