Indicator Gauge Icon Legend
Legend Colors
Red is bad, green is good, blue is not statistically different/neutral.
Compared to Distribution
the value is in the best half of communities.
the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.
the value is in the worst quarter of communities.
Compared to Target
meets target;
does not meet target.
Compared to a Single Value
lower than the comparison value;
higher than the comparison value;
not statistically different from comparison value.
Trend
non-significant change over time;
significant change over time;
no change over time.
Compared to Prior Value
higher than the previous measurement period;
lower than the previous measurement period;
no statistically different change from previous measurement period.
Significantly better than the overall value
Significantly worse than the overall value
No significant difference with the overall value
No data on significance available
Babies with Very Low Birthweight
This indicator is archived and is no longer being updated. Click to learn more
Why is this important?
Infants born with very low birthweight are more likely to have health problems. Low birthweight is typically caused by premature birth and fetal growth restriction. Factors impacting the likelihood of low birthweight include the pregnant person's race, age, health, and being pregnant with multiples (e.g., twins, triplets). Smoking, drinking alcohol, and substance misuse during pregnancy can also increase the risk for having an infant with low birthweight (March of Dimes).
Considerations for Equitable Approaches: Being a member of a group that experiences the effects of racism and health disparities can increase the risk of having an infant with low birthweight (March of Dimes). Nationally, non-Hispanic Black infants are almost twice as likely to be born with low birthweight (National Center for Health Statistics). Educating the public and health care providers, broadening access to quality health care services, promoting healthier physical and social environments, supporting innovative research, and advocating for efforts to address racial and social inequalities can be effective tools in reducing disparities in preterm births and low birthweight (American Public Health Association).
Inclusive Language Recommendations: As not all people who are pregnant identify as women, recommendations for more gender-inclusive language include using "pregnant people" and "pregnant patients" or other wording as applicable when referring to general recommendations for pregnancy (National Institutes of Health).
Measurement period: 2018
Maintained by: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute
Last update: March 2023
Graph Selections
Data Source
- California Department of Public Health
Maintained By: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute (Methodology)
Filed under: Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Health Outcomes, Infants