1B. NATALITY: MATERNAL CHARACTERISTICS ANDNEWBORN?SHEALTH
In 2013, 6.9 percent of all Arizona
infants were born at a low birthweight
(LBW), or at less than 2,500 grams
(5 pounds 8 ounces).
In Arizona, LBW rates differed by
mother?s racial/ethnic group. LBW
rates were highest for newborns of
Black or African American mothers
(11.1 percent), Asian or Pacific
Islander mothers (7.9 percent), and
American Indian mothers (7.2
percent). Newborns of Hispanic or
Latino and White non-Hispanic
mothers had the lowest LBW rates
(6.6 and 6.4 percent respectively;
based on data in
Table 1B-26
).
Figure1B-19
Percent LowBirthweight
a
byMother?sRace/Ethnicity,
ArizonaResidents, 2013
Notes:
a
Low birthweight is less than 2,500 grams (less than 5 pounds 8 ounces).
The percent of Arizona mothers
giving birth who received early
prenatal care (i.e., in the first
trimester) has remained relatively
stable from 2008 (79.4 percent) to
2013 (81.3 percent;
Table1B-2
).
In Arizona, American Indian, Hispanic
or Latino, and Black or African
Americanmothers were least likely to
begin prenatal care in the first
trimester (
Figure 1B-20
). The
highest utilization rates of early
prenatal care were amongWhite non-
Hispanic and Asian or Pacific Islander
mothers (based on data in
Table 1B-
26
).
Figure1B-20
First Trimester Prenatal CarebyMother?sRace/Ethnicity,
ArizonaResidents, 2013
Arizona Health Status and Vital Statistics 2013
27
