Low birthweight is perhaps the most important factor associated with infant mortality. And it is important to realize that even when infants survive, low birthweight may result in significant health problems into childhood and beyond. As a nation, we re losing ground in reducing low birthweight. Now let s look again at disparities by race and ethnicity. The data show a threefold difference in low birthweight, ranging from 4 percent of Korean infants born at low birthweight to 13 percent of black infants.
Smoking is another risk factor, of course for mothers, but also for their infants.
Women who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy are almost twice as likely to have a low birthweight infant than women who don t smoke. The chart shows that more women now abstain from smoking during pregnancy, nearing the goal of 90 percent. However there is a critical and growing problem. Smoking during pregnancy is up among teenagers, with large increases among black and Puerto Rican teens. Still another risk is alcohol use, with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome the most serious consequence.