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Low/Very Low Birthweight by Race/Ethnicity

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Published by:
California Department of Public Health
Last updated:
April 10, 2025
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Description:

This table contains the percent of live births with low birthweight and very low birthweight by maternal race/ethnicity. Low birthweight are live births weighing less than 2,500 grams (approximately 5 pounds, 8 ounces). Very low birthweight are live births weighing less than 1,500 grams (approximately 3 pounds, 5 ounces). Low and very low birthweight can be associated with very serious health problems for the infant and can lead to certain serious health conditions later in life. Data includes births with birthweight of 227 to 8,165 grams and excludes non-California residents. Note: The race and ethnic groups in this table utilize nine mutually exclusive race and ethnicity categories. These categories are Hispanic and the following Non-Hispanic categories of Multi-Race, African-American, American Indian (includes Eskimo and Aleut), Asian, Pacific Islander (includes Hawaiian), White, Other and Unknown (includes refused to state and missing).

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Year
Race-Ethnicity
Birthweight Type
Total Births
Events
Percent
Lower 95% CI
Upper 95% CI
2014
Hispanic
Low Birthweight
237298
14979
6.3
6.2
6.4
2014
Multi-race
Low Birthweight
11577
883
7.6
7.2
8.1
2014
African American
Low Birthweight
25211
2985
11.8
11.4
12.2
2014
American Indian
Low Birthweight
1765
113
6.4
5.4
7.6
2014
Asian
Low Birthweight
74874
5419
7.2
7.1
7.4
2014
Pacific Islander
Low Birthweight
2017
134
6.6
5.6
7.8
2014
White
Low Birthweight
138410
7906
5.7
5.6
5.8
2014
Other
Low Birthweight
153
2014
Unknown
Low Birthweight
11573
1165
10.1
9.5
10.6
2015
All Race-Ethnic Groups
Low Birthweight
491652
33673
6.8
6.8
6.9
2015
Hispanic
Low Birthweight
233969
15204
6.5
6.4
6.6
2015
Multi-race
Low Birthweight
11577
875
7.6
7.1
8.1
2015
African American
Low Birthweight
23977
2841
11.8
11.4
12.3

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Data dictionary

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Column Name
Format
Definition
Race-Ethnicity
String
The race and ethnic groups in this table utilize nine mutually exclusive race and ethnicity categories. These categories are Hispanic and the following Non-Hispanic categories of Multi-Race, African-American, American Indian (includes Eskimo and Aleut), Asian, Pacific Islander (includes Hawaiian), White, Other and Unknown (includes refused to state and missing).
Birthweight Type
String
Either Low Birthweight or Very Low Birthweight. Low birthweight are live births weighing less than 2,500 grams (approximately 5 pounds, 8 ounces). Very low birthweight are live births weighing less than 1,500 grams (approximately 3 pounds, 5 ounces). Data includes births with birthweight of 227 to 8,165 grams.
Total Births
Numeric
Total number of live births within year
Events
Numeric
Number of Low Birthweight or Very Low Birthweight births within year. Number is not shown when less than 11.
Percent
Numeric
Calculated by dividing Events by Total Births, then multiplying by 100. Percents are not shown when Event is less than 11.

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