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Show Low birth weight is associated with increased health care costs, significant health problems, and increased use of special education services. Utah hospital discharge data indicate that length of stay and health care charges for low birth weight infants are much higher than for normal weight infants. For example, length of stay in a newborn intensive care unit (NICU) for a low birth weight infant was almost three times longer than a NICU stay for a normal weight infant at 12.2 days vs. 4.2 days. Hospital charges were 2.6 times higher than charges for a normal weight infant -$11,809 versus $4,468 (Office of Health Data Analysis, 1999). Infants born at low birth weight may also have significant health problems. These infants often require neonatal intensive care and have a higher incidence of subsequent health problems such as cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease. A low birth weight infant can take a tremendous emotional and financial toll on a family especially if there are significant chronic health problems. Low birth weight infants require special education services more often than children born of normal weight (Hack, Klein & Taylor, 1995). One study found that the costs of providing special education for these children through the sixth grade were about 2.3 times the costs of regular education to the same grade (Shraeder, Heverly, O'Brien & Goodman, 1997). They may have attention deficit and/or learning disorders. Psychosocial problems, poor self-esteem, or difficulty with peer relationships associated with learning difficulties may also occur among these children. Geographic Distribution Low birth weight rates vary among geographic areas of the state as illustrated in Figure 2 (Bureau of Vital Records, 1999c). During the years 1989-1997, Southwest Utah Health District had the lowest percentage at 4.9% and Tooele County the highest at 7.6%. Tri-County (Uintah Basin) and Weber-Morgan Health Districts also had high low birth weight percentages. Southwest, Utah County, Bear River and Davis County Health Districts had low birth weight percentages below the state average of 6.1% (Bureau of Vital Records, 1999a). Small area analysis of births during 1994-1996 revealed areas in the state with low birth weight percentages above the state average. These areas included downtown Ogden, Rose Park, Glendale, South Salt Lake, and Taylorsville. Areas with low birth weight percentages below the state average included St. George, Logan, southeast Sandy, American Fork/Alpine, and Cedar City (Bureau of Surveillance and Analysis, 1998). Figure 2: Low Birth Weight Rate per 100 Live Births by Local Health District, 1989-1997, Utah 41 |
