1B. NATALITY: MATERNAL CHARACTERISTICS ANDNEWBORN?SHEALTH
Figure 1B-21
Maternal Medical Risk Factors
a
byMother?sRace/Ethnicity, Arizona, 2013
Notes:
a
Births withmedical risk factors reported per 100 births in specified group.
Maternal medical risk factors (such as
anemia, diabetes, hypertension, or
kidney disease) can contribute to
serious pregnancy complications and
infant deaths, if not treated properly.
In 2013, American Indian or Alaskan
Native and Black or African American
women giving birth had the highest
proportion of medical risk factors (49.0
and 45.8 percent respectively;
Figure
1B-21
).
Figure 1B-22
Risk for Low-Birthweight byMaternalWeight GainduringPregnancy,
Arizona, 2013
Maternal weight gain during pregnancy
is a determinant of both fetal growth
and birthweight. Insufficient or
excessive
weight
gain
during
pregnancy can negatively influence
outcomes of both mother and infant
(see
Figure 2C-4.3
). Women who are
of normal weight (average body mass
index or BMI) should gain 21-35
pounds during pregnancy. Women who
are underweight should gainmore (28-
40 pounds), and women who are
overweight should gain less (15 to 25
pounds). Unfortunately, it is not
possible to determine whether weight
gain is within the recommendations for
the mother?s BMI because the
mother?s pre-pregnancy weight and
height is not reported on the birth
certificate.
Maternal weight gain has been shown
to be correlated with infant
birthweight. In 2013, as in previous
years, the percent of infants with low
birthweight decreased with increasing
maternal weight gain (
Figure1B-22
).
28
Arizona Health Status and Vital Statistics 2013
