Very Low Birth Weight Among Infants, by Race/Ethnicity: 1989–2005
The proportion of infants born at very low birth weight has increased among all racial and ethnic groups since 1989. Historically, a significantly higher proportion of non-Hispanic Black infants have been born at very low birth weight compared to infants of other races and ethnicities. In 2005, 3.3 percent of non-Hispanic Black infants were born at a very low birth weight, while 1.2 percent of non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native infants had a very low birth weight. Percent of infants born at very low birth weight in 2005 were:
- Non-Hispanic Black: 3.3%
- All Races: 1.5%
- Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.2%
- American Indian/Alaska Native: 1.2%
- Non-Hispanic White: 1.2%
- Hispanic: 1.2%
Source: Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, Ventura SJ, Menacker F, Kirmeyer S, Munson ML. Births: Final data for 2005. National vital statistics reports; vol 56 no 6. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2007.
