Temporal trends of risk factors associated with low birth weight--national and state of Connecticut: 1992-1998.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the magnitude of the problem of low birth weight in the U.S. and the State of Connecticut. To describe the temporal trends of selected risk factors associated with low birth weight (LBW) from 1992-1998.


METHODS
Retrospective, descriptive study utilizing reports from birth certificate data from National Center for Health Statistics and Annual Registration Reports for the State of Connecticut.


RESULTS
Over the seven-year period (1992-1998), the birth rate decreased from 15.9% to 14.6% at the national level and from 14.5% to 13.4% in Connecticut. However, percent of low birth weight increased from 7.1% to 7.6% at the national level and from 6.9% to 7.8% in Connecticut. There was an increase in the percent of premature infants nationally. Significant changes in the LBW risk factors at both the national level and in Connecticut were increased births to mothers > or = 35 years (P < 0.0001) and increased multiple births (P = 0.0001).
Department of Nursing, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA.
Gloria
G
Borders
Naveed
N
Hussain
D001724:Birth Weight; D003237:Connecticut; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States