Statistics
Low
Birth Weight
Newborns weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces have a “low birth
weight.” Low birth weight babies are 40 times more likely to die
during the first months of life. Those that survive are 2-3 times more
likely to suffer from a lifelong handicap or disability. Low birth weight
usually occurs when babies are born too early.
Low Birth Weight Statistics
MedCost.
Our SmartStarts maternity education and
nurse mentoring program has a low birth rate of 4.8%. This compares
very favorably to the national average of 7.9%. As described below,
both North Carolina and South Carolina have low birth weight averages
that are even higher than the national average. In light of this,
MedCost’s
average is even more impressive.
Low Birth Weight Statistics MedCost: 4.8% National: 7.9% North Carolina 9% South Carolina 10.1% |
The low birth weight information below is from the March of Dimes Peristats Web site (www.marchofdimes.com/peristats/), retrieved on December 15, 2005. The data on PeriStats originates from multiple agencies. Sources for this data are listed at the bottom of every page that includes graphs, maps, tables, and data used in context.
North Carolina
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In 2003, the low birth weight rate in North Carolina (9.0%) had not met the Healthy People 2010 objective of no more than 5.0% of live births, set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Black infants (13.8%) were about 2 times as likely as Hispanic infants (6.1%) to be born low birth weight during 2000-2002 (average)
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Compared with singleton births, multiple births in North Carolina were about 8 times as likely to be low birth weight in 2002.
South Carolina
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In 2003, the low birth weight rate in South Carolina (10.1%) had not met the Healthy People 2010 objective of no more than 5.0% of live births, set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Black infants (14.3%) were about 2 times as likely as Hispanic infants (6.9%) to be born low birth weight during 2000-2002 (average)
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Compared with singleton births, multiple births in South Carolina were about 8 times as likely to be low birth weight in 2002.
Copyright
2005, MedCost, LLC. Reviewed for medical
accuracy
by the MedCost Medical Director. No information on the SmartStarts Web site is
intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your
health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have.
