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Will Improvement in Birth Weight Be Enough?

Nancy J. Binkin, MD, MPH; Ronald L. Williams, PhD; Carol J. R. Hogue, PhD, MPH; Peter M. Chen

JAMA. 1985;253(3):372-375.

Abstract
To study some of the factors contributing to the higher rate of black neonatal mortality in the United States, we used matched cohort records for California between 1980 and 1981 and for Georgia between 1979 and 1981. We found that at any combination of birth weight and gestational age, black neonates weighing less than 3,000 g had lower mortality rates than whites, but this survival advantage was outweighed by considerably higher rates of low birth weight among blacks. At 3,000 g or more, whites had the survival advantage; even at optimal survival weight, the black mortality rate was nearly twice that for whites. If a reduction in the black mortality rate is to occur, improvements are needed both in the black birth-weight distribution and in birth-weight-specific mortality rates, particularly in the normal birth-weight ranges.

(JAMA 1985;253:372-375)

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta (Drs Binkin and Hogue); and the Community and Organization Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara (Dr Williams and Mr Chen).

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333 (Dr Binkin).

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