LOW BIRTH WEIGHT

STABLE SINCE 2005, LOW BIRTH WEIGHT VARIES BY RACE AND ETHNICITY, WITH GREATEST DISPARITY AMONG BLACK INFANTS.

Description Of Indicator

This indicator reports the total number of low birth weight infants and very low birth weight infants as proportions of the total number of births. Low birth weight is defined as infants born weighing less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces). Very low birth weight infants are defined as a subset of low birth weight infants born weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 5 ounces).

Why is this Important?

Low birth weight infants have an increased risk of experiencing developmental problems and delays. In addition, these infants are at higher risk for serious illness, disability, lifelong health difficulties and are more likely to die before their first birthday.1 Amongst very low birthweight infants, the risks are higher and the negative outcomes more severe, especially the risk of death in the first year with a 22% chance of dying, compared to 1% for low birth weight infants.2 The primary causes of low birth weight are premature birth and fetal growth restriction. Risk factors for low birth weight include smoking, alcohol/ drug use during pregnancy, multiple births, poor nutrition, maternal age, socioeconomic factors, domestic violence and maternal or fetal infections.

Findings

• In 2014, there were 38,610 resident births in Orange County, of which 6.3% (2,433) were low birth weight infants, a decrease from the high of 6.7% in 2011 and the same rate since 2012.

• Overall, the Orange County rate is lower than the 2014 rates for California (6.7%)3 and the United States (8.0%)4

• Very low birth weight infants comprise 0.9% (345) of the total births.

• When assessed by race/ethnicity, the percent of low birth weight infants within each group were Black (10.9%), Asian (6.7%), Hispanic (6.1%) and White (6.0%).