"Short gestation and LBW [Low Birth Weight] are among the leading causes of neonatal death, accounting for 20 percent of neonatal deaths. In 1998, [U.S. wide] a total of 11.6 percent of births were preterm, and 7.6 percent were LBW. [Ventura, S.J.; Martin, J.A.; Curtin, S.C.; et al. Births: Final data for 1997. National Vital Statistics Report 48(3), 2000.] Included in these statistics were VLBW [Very Low Birth Weight] infants weighing less than 1,500 grams (3.3 pounds).

LBW is associated with long-term disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, vision and hearing impairments, and other developmental disabilities. [...] Despite the low proportion of pregnancies resulting in LBW babies, expenditures for the care of LBW infants total more than half of the costs incurred for all newborns. In 1988, the cost of a normal, healthy delivery averaged $1,900, whereas hospital costs for LBW infants averaged $6,200. [Lewit, E.M.; Baker, L.S.; Hope, C.; et al. The direct cost of low birth weight. Future Child 5(1):35-56, 1995.]"

The following table shows the Healthy People 2010 Objective for the birth weight outcomes:

Birth Weight Outcome	2010 Objective
Low Birth Weight	5.0
Very Low Birth Weight	0.9
Source: http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/Volume1/09Family.htm

The California County Profile Reports include information on low birth weight and very low birth weight births.

Definitions

A baby is defined as having a low birth weight if its weight is less than 2,500 grams at delivery. A baby with unknown birthweight is not considered for this analysis.

A baby is defined as having very low birth weight if its weight is less than 1,500 grams at delivery. Note that very low birth weight births are by definition also low birth weight births and counted in both birth weight measures. A baby with unknown birthweight is not considered for this analysis.

Tables and Figures

Number and Percent of Low Birth Weight Infants by Race/Ethnicity, California and Humboldt County, 2007

Race/Ethnicity	Humboldt County			California
Race/Ethnicity	N	All Births	%	N	All Births	%
Hispanic	14	238	5.9	18,748	296,973	6.3
Non-Hispanic White	60	1,083	5.5	9,654	150,998	6.4
Non-Hispanic Black	0	18	0.0	3,592	29,497	12.2
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	4	60	6.7	5,251	68,861	7.6
Non-Hispanic Other Race	18	203	8.9	1,682	19,870	8.5
Overall	96	1,602	6.0	38,927	566,199	6.9

Births with unknown values are not included
Categories with less than 10 live births are grayed
Source: California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Percent of Low Birth Weight Infants, Humboldt County, 2005-2007

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Source: California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Percent of Low Birth Weight Infants, California and Humboldt County, 2005-2007

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Source: California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Number and Percent of Very Low Birth Weight Infants by Race/Ethnicity, California and Humboldt County, 2007

Race/Ethnicity	Humboldt County			California
Race/Ethnicity	N	All Births	%	N	All Births	%
Hispanic	2	238	0.8	3,340	296,973	1.1
Non-Hispanic White	11	1,083	1.0	1,616	150,998	1.1
Non-Hispanic Black	0	18	0.0	809	29,497	2.7
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	1	60	1.7	765	68,861	1.1
Non-Hispanic Other Race	2	203	1.0	270	19,870	1.4
Overall	16	1,602	1.0	6,800	566,199	1.2

Births with unknown values are not included
Categories with less than 10 live births are grayed
Source: California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Percent of Very Low Birth Weight Infants, Humboldt County, 2005-2007

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Source: California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Percent of Very Low Birth Weight Infants, California and Humboldt County, 2005-2007

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Source: California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

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