Prenatal Care, Low Birthweight, and Preterm Births:
Highlights of Recent Data

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    In 2009, about 7% of California infants were born at low birthweight (about 5 lbs, 5 oz or less). The percentage of California infants born at low birthweight edged up slightly from 1999 to 2009.

    Definition: Percentage of infants born at low birthweight, which is defined as less than 2,500 grams.
    Data Source: California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics Section, CD-Rom Public Use Birth and Death Files and Vital Statistics Query System.

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    California moms ages 20-29 have the lowest percentage of low birthweight babies (6.1% in 2009) compared to other age groups. Moms ages 45 and above consistently have the highest percentage of low birthweight babies.

    Definition: Percentage of infants born at low birthweight, which is defined as less than 2,500 grams, by race/ethnicity of mother (e.g., In 2009, 8% of babies born to Asian/Pacific Islander mothers in California were at low birthweight).
    Data Source: California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics Section, CD-Rom Public Use Birth and Death Files and Vital Statistics Query System.

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    African American moms consistently have the highest percentage of babies with low birthweight compared to other racial/ethnic groups. 12% of infants born to African American moms had low birthweight in California in 2009 versus 6.2% for White or Latina moms.

    Definition: Percentage of infants born at low birthweight, which is defined as less than 2,500 grams, by race/ethnicity of mother (e.g., In 2009, 8% of babies born to Asian/Pacific Islander mothers in California were at low birthweight).
    Data Source: California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics Section, CD-Rom Public Use Birth and Death Files and Vital Statistics Query System.

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    The percentage of infants whose moms receive 1st trimester prenatal care varies greatly across California. The five California counties with the highest percentages of 1st trimester prenatal care in 2009: Marin-95%, San Mateo, Orange & Fresno-89%, SF-88%.

    Definition: Percentage of infants whose mothers received prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy.
    Data Source: California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics Section, CD-Rom Public Use Birth Files and Vital Statistics Query System.

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    Receipt of timely prenatal care varies by race/ethnicity. Between 2005 and 2008, percentages declined for all groups but rebounded slightly for most groups in 2009. This indicator measures the percentage of infants whose mothers received first trimester prenatal care.

    Definition: Percentage of infants whose mothers received prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy by race/ethnicity of mother.
    Data Source: California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics Section, CD-Rom Public Use Birth Files and Vital Statistics Query System.

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    Around 10% of infants in California are born prematurely (less than 37 weeks of gestation). According to recent data, Kern and Fresno counties have had among the highest percentages of preterm births in California.

    Definition: Percentage of infants born prior to 37 weeks of gestation, calculated from reported date of last mensus.
    Data Source: California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics Section, CD-Rom Public Use Birth and Death Files and Vital Statistics Query System.