- The Ohio and United States low birth weight (LBW)
rates have been steadily rising over the last fifteen years1, and
Ohio has been above the national average for the past five years.2
- Currently, 7.5% of Ohio infants are born with
LBW3, which is defined as an infant weighing less than 2,500 grams,
or less than five pounds, eight ounces.
- Low birth weight is associated with many health
problems, including mental retardation and cerebral palsy, as well as being a
major predictor for infant mortality.4 Unfortunately, there is
limited clinical understanding of what causes LBW, and prevention efforts have
not led to significant reduction in rates.
- Blacks are nearly twice as likely as Whites to
have LBW infants. Although only 17% of all 1993 Ohio births were to Blacks, 31%
of the LBW births occurred in this population. Teenagers, women over 35, and
women who have a history of LBW deliveries also have higher rates of LBW
infants.5
- Many studies suggest that prenatal care is
positively related to healthy birth outcomes.6 However, studies
indicate that the most effective method for prenatal interventions to decrease
LBW births are to focus on smoking cessation, maternal nutrition, and proper
medical care.7
- Maternal weight gain during pregnancy is highly
correlated with the birth weight of the infant.8 On average, women
gain about thirty pounds during pregnancy. Women with total weight gains of 22
pounds or less during pregnancy are significantly more likely to have
growth-retarded full-term babies.9
- Between 15 and 33% of women do not gain adequate
weight during pregnancy. Low maternal weight gain is particularly common among
Black women. After adjusting for gestational age and socioeconomic status, Black
women gain less weight during pregnancy than White women.10
- Smoking has a profound impact on the rates of
LBW in Ohio and nationally. Smoking one pack of cigarettes daily increases the
risk of a LBW birth to more than double that of non-smokers.
- White women have a higher rate of smoking during
pregnancy than other racial groups, however, Blacks have poorer outcomes than
Whites at similar levels of tobacco use.11
- The increase in survival rates of LBW infants
leads to increasing health care costs. Although only 7% of all births are LBW
infants, they account for 35% of infant health care costs because of longer and
more intensive hospital stays, often in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Extremely LBW babies are up to six times as costly as normal weight babies.12
Low Birth Weight Births (Under 2,500 Grams) By Race, Ohio, 1990-1995
Reference:
1. Ohio Department of Health; Division of Family and Community Health Services and
The Office of Policy and Planning. Infants Born With Low Birth Weight in Ohio: The
Ohio Health Monograph Series. October 1996. p.3.
2. ODH. p. 5.
3. Help Me Grow Fact Sheet. ODH; Bureau of Maternal and Child Health. Jan 24, 1996.
4. ODH. p. viii-1.
5. ODH. p.4.
6. ODH. p.12.
7. Alexander, G.R. Korenbrot, C.C. The Role of Prenatal Care in Preventing Low Birth Weight. Low Birth Weight: The Future of Children. 5(1): Spring 1995. pp. 107-8.
8. Luke, B. Dickinson, D. Petrie, R.H. Intrauterine growth: Correlations of maternal nutritional status and rate of gestational weight gain. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology. (1981) 12:113-21.
9. Kramer, M.S. McLean, F.H. et al. Maternal nutrition and spontaneous preterm birth. American Journal of Epidemiology (1992) 136:574-83.
10. National Center for Health Statistics. Advance report of maternal and infant health data from the birth certificate, 1990. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, 2(42), Suppl. Hyattsville, MD: Public Health Service.
11. ODH. p. 9.
12. Lewit, E.M. Baker. L.S. et al. The Direct Cost
of Low Birth Weight. Low Birth Weight: The Future of Children. 5(1): Spring
1995. p.40. Last Updated
