Low Birth Weight by Health Authority

Topic Box from the 2006 Sixth Annual Benchmark Report

Description
Newborns weighing less than 2,500 grams are considered to be low birth weight infants. This indicator presents the ratio of low weight births (birth weight less than 2,500 grams) to total live births. Factors that contribute to low birth weight are socio-economic status, social support, stress and personal habits. This indicator serves as a proxy for overall health and social condition.

Why it's Important
Low birth weight newborns have a substantially higher rate of post-birth illness and death. Long-term health problems, increased hospitalization rates and disabilities are also associated with low birth weight.

The Fraser Health Authority had the highest 2005 rate of low weight births (6.0%) and the highest rate of low weight births, on average between 1996 and 2005, at 5.4%.

The Northern Health Authority had the lowest rate of low weight births in 2005 (4.8%) and the lowest 1996 through 2005 average rate (4.6%).

The 2005 rate of low weight births was above the 1996 rate in four of the five regional Health Authorities. However, this indicator is fairly volatile from year to year and different ten-year comparisons using different start and end dates can yield either increases or decreases for several of the Health Authorities. In addition, British Columbia performs well on this indicator whether compared to other provinces, US states or OECD nations.