Percentage of births where birth weight was less than 5lb 8oz
A baby who is carried to full-term and born at a healthy weight reduces the risk of infant mortality, later developmental and educational delays, and a number of adult health problems such as asthma, high blood pressure and Type II diabetes. Premature birth (before 37 weeks) is the most common reason for low birth weight, though some babies are simply small for gestational age (called growth-restricted). The rate of low birth weight babies varies by mother's age, race/ethnicity, and overall health.
At 9.6% in 2011-2012 and 9.9% in 2018-2019, the percentage of babies born at a low birth weight in Mecklenburg County has remained relatively stable over the past several years, and is similar to North Carolina (9.1%), but higher than the United States (8.0%). African American women have the highest rate of low birth weight and premature infants, but their rate has declined as the rates for Non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanic women are beginning to rise.
Conditions related to prematurity and immaturity are one of the largest contributors to infant deaths. In 2018, the infant mortality rate in Mecklenburg County was 5.1 per 1,000 live births. However, the infant mortality rate for African American infants is 3 times that for Non-Hispanic Whites and 2.3 times that for Hispanics.
Number of births where baby weighed less than 2500 grams (approximately 5lb 8oz) divided by all births.
These data are cumulative for the previous 24 months. Areas with fewer than 5 births are shown as N/A.
Source: Mecklenburg County Health Department
| Resource | Learn More and Take Action |
|---|---|
| Community Health Assessment | A comprehensive look at key indicators of public health and how our community is working to promote health for all. |
| Community Resource Guide | Find health services in Mecklenburg County related to pregnancy care and much more. |
| County Health Rankings: Low Birth Weight | Compare low birth weight in Mecklenburg County to other counties in the nation, along with a variety of other health indicators. |
| National Low Birth Weight Statistics | National data on low birth weight, by maternal race and education. |
| Is Low Birthweight a Health Problem? | The Center for Disease Control's web resource on low birth weight. |
| March of Dimes | Helping mothers have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies. |