Infants born low-birthweight are at risk of long term disability and impaired development. Infants born under 2,500 grams are more likely than heavier infants to experience delayed motor and social development, children aged 4-17 who were born at low birthweight were more likely to be enrolled in special classes, to repeat a grade or to fail in school than children who were born at a normal birthweight.

WAYS TO MEASURE

• Percentage of Infants Born of Low Birthweight, by Race/Ethnicity

WHAT THE DATA SHOWS

The percent of infants born in Ramsey County weighing less than 2500 grams has been stable from 1996 to 2000, ranging from 6 to 8 percent.

Low birth weight rates vary significantly by race:

• African Americans and American Indians have the highest rates of low birth weight babies (around 10%)
• Hispanics have low birth weight rates ranging from 6 to 8 percent
• Whites and Asians have somewhat lower rates of low birth weight babies (5% to 7%).

These rates are significantly higher than the 2004 statewide goal of 3.5 percent or fewer low birth weight babies.

[Source: Wilder Research Center, November 2004]

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Twin Cities Compass

• Low Birth Weight - Searchable database with downloadable data; 7 county metro area.

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Spring 2005 - "Low Birthweight and School Readiness," Extracted from "School Readiness: Closing Racial and Ethnic Gaps," The Future of Children, The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and The Brookings Institution. [Free registration required.]

January 2005 - Pregnancy & Childbirth | Pregnant Women Living in Highly Polluted Areas More Likely To Deliver Low-Birthweight Infants, according to a study published in the January issue of Pediatrics.

February 2004 - U.S.Teenage Pregnancy Statistics - Minnesota Ranks 47th in State Comparison based on 2000 data.