Health Highlight Report for Socorro County
Birth Outcomes - Low Birthweight: Percentage Low Birthweight, 2015-2017
Socorro County 8.7%95% Confidence Interval (6.4% - 11.0%)Description of the Confidence IntervalThe confidence interval indicates the range of probable true values for the level of risk in the community.
A value of "DNA" (Data Not Available) will appear if the confidence interval was not published with the IBIS indicator data for this measure.Statistical Stability StableDescription of Statistical Stability- Stable = This count or rate is relatively stable and should provide a good estimate of your community risk.
- Unstable = This count or rate is statistically unstable (RSE >0.30), and may fluctuate widely due to random variation (chance).
- Very Unstable = This count or rate is extremely unstable (RSE >0.50). This value should not be used to represent your population risk. You should combine years or otherwise increase the population denominator in this calculation.
- DNA = Data Not Available. The required community value and/or confidence interval was not available for this measure.
New Mexico 9.0%U.S. 8.3%Socorro County Compared to State
Description of Dashboard GaugeDescription of the Dashboard Gauge
This "dashboard" type graphic is based on the community data on the right. It compares the community value on this indicator to the state overall value.- Excellent = The community's value on this indicator is BETTER than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
- Watch = The community's value is BETTER than state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
- Improvement Needed = The community's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
- Reason for Concern = The community's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
The community value is considered statistically significantly different from the state value if the state value is outside the range of the community's 95% confidence interval. If the community's data or 95% confidence interval information is not available, a blank gauge image will be displayed with the message, "missing information."NOTE: The labels used on the gauge graphic are meant to describe the community's status in plain language. The placement of the gauge needle is based solely on the statistical difference between the community and state values. When selecting priority health issues to work on, a community should take into account additional factors such as how much improvement could be made, the U.S. value, the statistical stability of the community number, the severity of the health condition, and whether the difference is clinically significant.
Why Is This Important?
Low birthweight increases the risk for infant mortality and morbidity. As birthweight decreases, the risk for death increases. Low birthweight infants who survive often require intensive care at birth, may develop chronic illnesses, and later may require special education services. Health care costs and length of hospital stay are higher for low birthweight infants.What Is Being Done?
The Maternal Health Program collaborates with the UNM Maternal & Family Planning (M & FP) and Presbyterian Medical Group perinatologists to provide care to high risk, medically indigent women. These services are provided to patients free of charge through the High Risk Prenatal Care Fund (HRF) at the UNM Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque, UNM outreach clinics and Presbyterian hospitals and clinics throughout the State. UNM maintains the Physician Access Line for Service (PALS), providing statewide access to a perinatologist 24/7 for telephone consultations and to arrange transport for patients requiring intensive management at the university, including women in preterm labor. Additionally, UNM Telemedicine offers the High Risk Pregnancy direct patient evaluation, real-time fetal ultrasound analysis and counseling whereby remotely practicing physicians can access specialty services for patients. This network of care and screening is designed to prevent low birthweight births through specialized care to the mother. These high risk providers are the most likely to anticipate and recognize preterm labor and other conditions where delivery at a tertiary care center is desirable and make appropriate transfers of care to them. Women in premature labor or with other pregnancy related complications may transfer out of the state if another tertiary care center is closer than Albuquerque. Albuquerque has the only two level one neonatal intensive care units in the state. Data on which facilities these women transfer to is not available.Healthy People Objective MICH-8.1:
Low birth weight (LBW)U.S. Target: 7.8 percent
Related Indicators
Relevant Population Characteristics:
Note
Low birthweight is defined as less than 2,500 grams (about 5 pounds, 8 ounces).Data Sources
Birth Certificate Data, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (BVRHS), New Mexico Department of Health. U.S. Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, ]http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/]Measure Description for Birth Outcomes - Low Birthweight
Definition: Low birthweight infants are those weighing less than 2,500 grams (about 5.5 pounds). The low birthweight rate is the number of live births under 2,500 grams divided by the total number of live births over the same time period.
Numerator: Number of live born infants weighing under 2,500 grams.
Denominator: Total number of live births.
