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.

Definition

Percent of live births with a birth weight of less than 1,500 grams (approximately 3 lbs, 5 oz.)

Data Sources

• Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Natality public-use data, CDC WONDER On-line Database, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  (https://wonder.cdc.gov/natality.html)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

The average birth weight of New Jersey infants born in 2022 was 3,251.5 grams or 7 lbs 3 oz. 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, where it remains. Black mothers (2.6%) are more likely to deliver VLBW infants than are other racial/ethnic groups (0.8-1.3%). Birth weight is highly correlated with plurality. One percent of singletons were of VLBW compared to 8.4% of twins and higher order births in 2022.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

The very low birth weight rate was about the same for New Jersey (1.2%) and the U.S. (1.4%).

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. The [https://nurturenj.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210120-Nurture-NJ-Strategic-Plan.pdf Nurture NJ Strategic Plan] sets forth recommendations to improve the health of New Jersey mothers and babies.

More Resources

Visit the NJSHAD [[a href="query/selection/birth/BirthSelection.html" Birth Data Query]] to create your own tables, graphs, and maps of birthweight by demographic, maternal, infant, health care services, and geographic characteristics. National Center for Health Statistics [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/birthweight.htm Birthweight and Gestation Fast Stats] Womack LS, Rossen LM, Martin JA. [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db306.pdf Singleton low birthweight rates, by race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2006-2016]. NCHS Data Brief, no 306. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018.