OCR Text |
Show RISKS TO INFANTS LOW BIRTH WEIGHT The total percentages of low birth weight babies in Utah is below the national average, and both Utah and the nation have generally seen declines in the percentage of low birth weight babies since 1970. The national percentage of low birth weight babies dropped steadily through the 1970's, reaching 7% in 1979 and remaining relatively steady since then. Utah's rate dropped below 6% in 1973, and remained between 5.2% and 5-7% through 1990. In 1991, the most recent year reported, the percentage of low birth weight babies in Utah returned to the 1972 level of 6% (Table 88, Figure. 55). Table 88 Low Birth Weight Percentage of birth weights less than 2500 grams. Utah Year Total White Black Total White Black 1970 6.5 6.5 12.9 7.9 6.8 13.9 1971 6.2 6.1 9.4 7.7 6.6 13.4 1972 6.0 6.0 11.9 in 6.5 13.6 1973 5.5 5.5 14.7 7.6 6.4 13.3 1974 5.3 5.2 17.9 7.4 6.3 13.1 1975 5.3 5.3 13.8 7.4 6.3 13.1 1976 5.4 5.3 14.0 7.3 9.1 13.0 1977 5.2 5.2 13.3 7.1 5.9 12.8 1978 5.6 5.6 7.3 7.1 5.9 12.9 1979 5.6 5.5 11.2 6.9 5.8 12.6 1980 5.3 5.2 9.6 6.8 5.7 12.5 1981 5.4 5.4 8.7 6.8 5.7 11.4 1982 5.6 5.5 11.4 6.8 5.6 11.2 1983 5.6 5.5 10.3 6.8 5.7 12.6 1984 5.6 5.4 10.1 6.7 5.6 12.4 1985 5.7 5.6 10.4 6.8 5.6 12.4 1986 5.4 5.3 9.3 6.8 5.6 12.5 1987 5.7 5.6 10.6 6.9 5.7 12.7 1988 5.7 5.6 11.8 6.9 5.6 11.5 1989 5.7 5.6 10.8 7.0 5.7 13.2 1990 5.7 5.6 8.6 7.0 5.7 13.3 1991 6.0 « -- -- - -- Figure 55 Total Percentage of Low Birth Weight 60 RISK FACTORS |