2003 Louisiana Vital Statistics Report - Louisiana Department of ...

LIVE BIRTHS 2003 LOUISIANA VITAL STATISTICS REPORT
NEWBORN PROFILE
Gender
Louisiana’s male/female birth ratio was 1.046, which means that 1,046 males were born for every 1,000 females. By race, the
male/female ratios were 1.042 for whites, 1.053 for blacks, and 1.037 for other races (Table 2.21).
Birthweight
Table 2.21: Counts of Live Births by Infant Gender and Maternal Race
Louisiana, 2003
Infant
Maternal Race
Gender White Black Other Total
Male 18912 13346 814 33072
Female 18154 12678 785 31617
Ratio (M:F) 1.042 1.053 1.037 1.046
Source: Louisiana State Center for Health Statistics.
A low birthweight infant is defined as an infant weighing less than 2500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces) at birth. Mortality and
morbidity are increased among infants born at term whose birth weights are at or below the third percentile for their gestational
age. (4) Preterm infants who have a lower than normal birth weight are at higher risk of experiencing neurological problems,
respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, developmental problems, and slowed growth. (5)
Low birthweight has been linked to several preventable factors, including lack of prenatal care, maternal smoking, use of alcohol
and other drugs, and pregnancy before the age of 18 years. Other risk factors for low birthweight include low socioeconomic
level, low maternal weight gain, low pregnancy weight, first birth status, female sex, short maternal stature, prior low birthweight
births, maternal illnesses, fetal infections, and a variety of metabolic and genetic disorders. Low birthweight infants who survive
are more likely than normal weight infants to have brain damage, lung and liver disease, developmental problems, subnormal
growth, and other adverse health conditions. The effects of low birthweight follow these infants throughout life, increasing their
likelihood of physical, intellectual and behavioral difficulties. (6) Over time, higher proportions of low birthweight infants are
enrolled in special education classes relative to their normal birthweight counterparts. (7)
The percentages of live births weighing less than 2500 grams in Louisiana and the United States from 1994 to 2003 are
presented in Table 2.22.
Table 2.22: Percent of Live Births Less Than 2500 Grams
Louisiana and United States 1994-2003
Year Louisiana United States
1994 9.6 7.3
1995 9.7 7.3
1996 9.9 7.4
1997 10.2 7.5
1998 10.1 7.6
1999 10.0 7.6
2000 10.6 7.6
2001 10.5 7.7
2002 10.5 7.8
2003 10.7 7.9
Sources: Louisiana State Center for Health Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics
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Louisiana Office of Public Health, State Center for Health Statistics Page 28