What does this measure?
The number of babies born with low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams or about 5.5 pounds) expressed as a percentage of all live births, reported by race/ethnicity in Monroe County.
Why is this important?
Low birth weight is a leading predictor of neonatal death. Low birth-weight infants are also more likely than normal birth-weight infants to experience long-term developmental and neurological disabilities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that maternal smoking is the cause of 20% to 30% of all low-weight births in the United States.
How is our region performing?
Among racial and ethnic groups in Monroe County, low birth weights were highest among African American babies, 15% in 2017. Despite a recent drop in rates of low birth weight among African American babies, rates among Hispanic and white babies were generally higher or unchanged in the second half of the decade. Between 2000 and 2017, the rate among Hispanic babies increased from 7% to 12% and remained steady among white babies at 6%.
Notes about the data
None.
Black or African American | Latino or Hispanic | White | |
---|---|---|---|
Monroe | 15% | 12% | 6% |
Rochester | 16% | 14% | 7% |
Notes: Percentage of babies born with a birthweight < 5.5 pounds.
Black or African American | Latino or Hispanic | White | |
---|---|---|---|
Monroe | 256 | 122 | 278 |
Rochester | 216 | 102 | 45 |
Black or African American | Latino or Hispanic | White | |
---|---|---|---|
Monroe | 15% | 7% | 6% |
Notes: Percentage of babies born with a birthweight < 5.5 pounds.
Black or African American | Latino or Hispanic | White | |
---|---|---|---|
Monroe | 280 | 54 | 305 |



INDICATORS - Grouped by Topic | REGIONAL VALUE | YEAR | NYS COMPARISON | TREND | REGION |
---|---|---|---|---|
Prenatal Care | 77% | 2017 |
3
![]() |
0
Maintaining
|
Prenatal Care, by Race/Ethnicity | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | ||
Babies Born with Low Birth Weights | 8.2% | 2017 |
2
![]() |
1
Increasing
|
Babies Born with Low Birth Weights, Race/Ethnicity, Monroe County | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | ||
Infant Mortality Rate | 6.7 | 2015-17 |
2
![]() |
0
Maintaining
|
Infant Mortality Rate, Race/Ethnicity, Monroe County | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | ||
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels | 0.9% | 2016 |
2
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|
Children in Poverty | 19% | 2015-19 |
3
![]() |
1
Increasing
|
Children in Poverty, Race/Ethnicity | 2015-19 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
Single-Parent Families | 39% | 2015-19 |
2
![]() |
1
Increasing
|
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity | 2015-19 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
Rate of Child Abuse and Neglect | 21 | 2019 |
2
![]() |
1
Increasing
|
Rate of Foster Care Admissions | 2.4 | 2019 |
2
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|
Rate of Teen Pregnancy | 2% | 2017 |
3
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|
Rate of Teen Births | 13 | 2017 |
2
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|


