Which statement correctly lists maternal/child health indicators with correct measurement units?

• A. Maternal Mortality Ratio is reported per 1,000 live births.
• B. Infant mortality rate is expressed per 1,000 live births.
• C. Low birth weight is defined as less than 1500 g.
• D. Maternal Mortality Ratio is reported per 100,000 live births; Infant Mortality Rate per 1,000 live births; and low birth weight is defined as <2500 g.

Answer: (D)

Understanding how maternal and child health indicators are measured helps you compare data across populations. The maternal mortality ratio is expressed as deaths per a set number of live births, with 100,000 being the standard unit used so comparisons are meaningful even when birth counts differ. The infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births, a convention that makes this year-to-year and place-to-place comparison straightforward. Low birth weight is defined by a birth weight threshold, specifically less than 2,500 grams, which is the clinical cut-off used to flag higher risk, regardless of the total number of births.

So the best choice aligns with these conventions: maternal mortality ratio reported per 100,000 live births; infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births; and low birth weight defined as <2,500 g. The other options mix up the units or thresholds—one misstates the MMR unit, another focuses only on one indicator, and the last uses an incorrect threshold for low birth weight.