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Delaware
Statistics on children, youth and families in Delaware from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and KIDS COUNT in Delaware
Very low birth weight births by age and race/ethnicity of mother in Delaware
Very low birth weight births by age and race/ethnicity of mother
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Note: Non-consecutive years appear adjacent in the trend line
because one or more years have been deselected.
because one or more years have been deselected.
Why This Indicator Matters
An infant's weight at birth can be a decisive indicator of the newborn's chances for survival, growth, long-term health and psychosocial development. Many causes of infant low birth-weight can be linked to the mother's behavior or health during pregnancy. Factors linked with low birth-weight include: tobacco use, alcohol or drug use, poor nutrition, excessive stress and anxiety, inadequate prenatal care, chronic maternal illness, premature labor, low weight of mother, genetic disorders or short interval between pregnancies. Babies who are born very low in birth-weight can face a variety of negative outcomes including an increased risk of infant mortality, heightened risk for long term disability and impaired development such as delayed motor and social development. It is important to note that access to healthcare and health education varies for women depending on financial and cultural environments. Women of color, women at lower education levels and unmarried women tend to have adverse social and economic support structures and therefore less access to prenatal services.
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Definition and Source
PROVIDER
Definition
Very Low Birth-Weight (<1500 grams) births by age and race/ethnicity of mother
Data Source
Delaware Health Statistics Center
Last Updated
October 2023