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Somerset County Public Health Profile Report

Low Birth Weight: Percentage of Live Births, 2020

  • Somerset
    7.4%
    95% Confidence Interval (6.5% - 8.4%)
    State
    7.7%
    U.S.
    8.2%
  • Somerset Compared to State

    gauge ranking
    Description of Gauge

    Description of the Gauge

    This graphic is based on the county data to the left. It compares the county value of this indicator to the state overall value.
    • Excellent = The county's value on this indicator is BETTER than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
    • Watch = The county's value is BETTER than state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
    • Improvement Needed = The county's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
    • Reason for Concern = The county's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.

    The county value is considered statistically significantly different from the state value if the state value is outside the range of the county's 95% confidence interval. If the county's data or 95% confidence interval information is not available, a blank gauge image will be displayed with the message, "missing information."
    NOTE: The labels used on the gauge graphic are meant to describe the county's status in plain language. The placement of the gauge needle is based solely on the statistical difference between the county and state values. When selecting priority health issues to work on, a county should take into account additional factors such as how much improvement could be made, the U.S. value, the statistical stability of the county number, the severity of the health condition, and whether the difference is clinically significant.

Why Is This Important?

Low birth weight (LBW) increases the risk for infant morbidity and mortality. LBW infants are at greater risk of dying in the first month of life. LBW infants may require intensive care at birth and are at higher risk of developmental disabilities and chronic illnesses throughout life. They are more likely to require special education services. Health care costs and length of hospital stay are higher for LBW infants.

How Are We Doing?

In New Jersey, the average birth weight is 3,261 grams or 7 lbs 3 oz. The overall low birth weight (LBW) rate reached an all time high of 8.4% in 2011 but has since declined below 8%. The very low birth weight rate (VLBW) among New Jersey births had been around 1.5% since the 1990s before declining to 1.4% in 2015, 1.3% in 2019, and 1.2% in 2020. The Healthy New Jersey 2020 targets for LBW and VLBW among all births were achieved. Black mothers are more likely to deliver LBW (13%) and VLBW (3%) infants than are other racial/ethnic groups. LBW rates for New Jersey's counties range from 5.8% in Sussex to 9.7% in Salem County. Birth weight is highly correlated with plurality and gestational age. While 2.4% of full term singletons are of LBW, 23.2% of full term twins are born at a weight below 2,500 grams. Similarly, 1.0% of singletons are of VLBW compared to 7% of twins and half of triplets.

What Is Being Done?

The [http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/ Division of Family Health Services] in the New Jersey Department of Health administers programs to enhance the health, safety and well-being of families and communities in New Jersey. Several programs are aimed at improving birth outcomes.

Healthy People Objective MICH-8.1:

Low birth weight (LBW)
U.S. Target: 7.8 percent
State Target: 7.7 percent

Note

Confidence intervals are not available for U.S. data.

Data Sources

Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health  

Measure Description for Low Birth Weight

Definition: Percent of live-born infants delivered with a birth weight of less than 2,500 grams (low birth weight) or less than 1,500 grams (very low birth weight) 2,500 grams is about 5 lbs, 8 oz and 1,500 grams is about 3 lbs, 5 oz.
Numerator: Number of live-born infants with a birth weight of less than 2,500 grams (LBW) or less than 1,500 grams (VLBW) born to resident mothers
Denominator: Number of live infants born to resident mothers

Indicator Profile Report

Birth Weight: (exits this report)

Date Content Last Updated

05/19/2022
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 9:08:40 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

Content updated: no date