Low Birthweight Babies

Date posted: 07/01/2009

Low birthweight is defined as less than 2,500 grams (5.5 lbs.), and very low birthweight is 1,500 grams (3.3 lbs.) or less.

What this chart shows: Percentage of Babies Born with Low Birthweight (5.5 lbs or less), 2003 - 2007

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, National Vital Statistics

See data table

What these data tell us:

In 2007, Larimer County had 268 low birthweight babies (5.5 lbs or less) and 31 very low birthweight babies (3.3 lbs or less). Larimer County had consistently lower percentages of low birthweight babies than Colorado and the nation. Larimer County and Colorado were both better than the national average for very low birthweight babies, as shown on the data table. However, neither Larimer County nor Colorado reached the Healthy People 2010 Goal of 5% for low birthweight babies (see Standards or Targets). Larimer County did meet the goal for very low birthweight babies (0.9%).

Additional Information:

On Compass -

• Adult Alcohol Use
• Adult Tobacco Use
• Birth Defects
• Disability
• Infant Mortality
• Prenatal Care
• Enrollment - Special Education
• Teen Fertility & Birth Rates

Outside Compass -

• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - the Colorado Health Information Dataset (COHID) is a searchable database with information on pregnancy, newborns, birth defects, etc.
• Larimer County Health Department
• March of Dimes - Colorado Birthweight Quick Facts
• Tipping the Scales: Weighing in on Solutions to the Low Birthweight Problem in Colorado

Standards or Targets:

The Healthy People 2010 Objectives related to low and very low birthweight infants are to decrease the percentage of low birthweights to 5.0% and very low birthweight to 0.9% of all births.

Data Tables:

Percentage of Children Born with a Low Birthweight (5.5 lbs or less)

	United States		Colorado		Larimer County
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
2002	314,077	7.8%	6,116	8.9%	253	7.7%
2003	323,106	7.9%	6,272	9.0%	296	8.5%
2004	333,363	8.1%	6,172	9.0%	257	7.6%
2005	339,514	8.2%	6,379	9.2%	274	8.0%
2006	351,974	8.3%	6,317	8.9%	282	8.0%
2007	N/A	8.2%	6,397	9.0%	268	7.7%

See chart

Percentage of Children Born with a Very Low Birthweight (3.3 lbs or less)

	United States		Colorado		Larimer County
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
2002	56,304	1.4%	901	1.3%	31	0.9%
2003	59,304	1.5%	906	1.3%	45	1.3%
2004	60,447	1.5%	889	1.3%	30	0.9%
2005	62,106	1.5%	902	1.3%	38	1.1%
2006	63,309	1.5%	889	1.3%	43	1.2%
2007	N/A	1.5%	930	1.3%	31	0.9%

See chart

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