The Changing Pattern of Low Birth Weight in the United States 1970 to 1980
- Samuel S. Kessel, MD, MPH;
- Jose Villar, MD, MPH, MSc;
- Heinz W. Berendes, MD, MHS;
- Robert P. Nugent, MPH
- From the Epidemiology and Biometry Research Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, Bethesda, Md (Drs Kessel and Berendes, and Mr Nugent); and the Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (Dr Villar). Dr Kessel is now with the Division of Maternal and Child Health, Health Services Resources Administration, Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Md.
Abstract
Analysis of US Natality Statistics using a bivariate (birth weight-gestational age) approach shows that trends among term-low-birth-weight infants (≤2,500 g; ≥37 weeks, term low birth weight) and preterm-low-birth-weight infants (≤2,500 g; <37 weeks, preterm low birth weight) have different patterns over time and by race. Between 1970 and 1980 the incidence of preterm low birth weight for all races declined 7.1%, while the term-low-birth-weight incidence declined almost three times as much (20.9%). The incidence of preterm low birth weight among white infants, during the same period, declined 9.0% with the black preterm-low-birth-weight rate declining by 5.8%. The term-low-birth-weight incidence, however, was 24.6% lower among whites and 14.9% lower among black term-low-birth-weight infants for the same period. The reduction in the overall low-birth-weight incidence for both populations is principally caused by reduction in the incidence of term-low-birth-weight infants. Term- and preterm-low-birth-weight infants reflect different etiologic insults and require different intervention strategies for prevention.
(JAMA 1984;251:1978-1982)
Footnotes
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Reprint requests to the Division of Maternal and Child Health, HSRA/USPHS/DHHS, Parklawn Bldg, Rm 6-17, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857 (Dr Kessel).
