What does this measure?
This is the percentage of infants born weighing less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds).
Data Source
Infant birthweight is entered on the infant birth certificate collected by Vital Records of the Department of Public Health. Data are managed by the Office of Health Information and Policy.
Why is this important?
Like being born prematurely, a low birthweight increases a child’s risk of chronic morbidity, developmental delays, intellectual deficits, and academic difficulties. Low birthweight rate is a leading indicator of maternal and child health in a given population.
