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In 2004, 8.1 percent of infants were born
at low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams, or 5 pounds
8 ounces); this represents an increase from the rate recorded
the previous year (7.9 percent). The percentage of infants
born at low birth weight has risen steadily from a low of
6.7 percent in 1984 and is currently at the highest level
recorded in the past three decades.
The increase in multiple births, which
are at high risk of being born preterm and of low weight,
has strongly influenced the increase in low birth weight;
however, rates are also on the rise for singleton births.
In 2004, the low birth weight rate was
much higher among non-Hispanic Black infants (13.7 percent)
than among infants of other racial/ethnic groups. The next
highest rate, which occurred among Asian/Pacific Islander
infants, was 7.9 percent, followed by a rate of 7.5 percent
among American Indian/Alaska Native infants. Low birth weight
occurred among 7.2 percent of non-Hispanic White infants,
and Hispanic infants experienced the lowest rate (6.8 percent).
Although low birth weight rates were lowest among non-Hispanic
White and Hispanic infants, these were also the only two
racial/ethnic groups to experience a significant increase
over the previous year.
Low birth weight is one of the leading
causes of neonatal mortality. Low birth weight infants are
more likely to experience long-term disability or to die
during the first year of life than are infants of normal
weight.
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Line Chart: Low Birth Weight Among Infants,
by Race/Ethnicity: 1985-2004
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