Newborn babies weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams) are
considered to be low birth weight. Low income, lack of education, chronic health
problems of the mother, smoking, alcohol and poor nutrition are associated with
an increased risk of having a low birth weight baby. Although advances in
medical care have reduced the death rate associated with low birth weight, a
small percentage of low birth weight babies have serious health problems and
cognitive disabilities resulting in learning problems.
According to the CDC’s preliminary National Vital Statistics Report for
2007, 8.2% of newborn babies in the United States, 1 in every 12 births, are
of low birth weight (Source: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics,
National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 57, No. 12, pg. 4, March 18, 2009).
In 2008, Pinellas County’s low birth weight births (809) accounted for
8.9% of total births, fractionally above Florida’s average of 8.8%.
Pinellas’ 2008 rate was the highest during the last ten years.
A
breakdown by race shows that the rate of low birth weight births
for blacks is more than double that of whites.
During 2006-08, the rate of low birth weight births per
100 resident live births for Pinellas County was below the
state average and other counties of similar size.
