Demographic and Health Characteristics of Births

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

The following table shows the number of births, prenatal care, number of preterm infants, and the number of low birthweight infants, according to the race of the mother in 2004.

Characteristic All races White
(non-Hispanic)
Black
(non-Hispanic)
American
Indian2
Asian or
Pacific Islander
Hispanic
origin1
Number of births 4,115,5902,304,181576,10543,931229,352944,993
Prenatal care beginning in first trimester 83.9%88.9%76.5%69.9%85.6%77.4%
Prenatal care beginning in third trimester or no care33.22.25.77.93.05.4
Smoker410.213.88.418.22.22.6
Preterm infant512.511.517.913.710.612.0
Low birthweight infant68.17.213.77.57.96.8
Very low birthweight infant61.51.23.11.31.11.2
1. Hispanic origin may be of any race.
2. Includes births to Aleuts and Eskimos.
3. Excludes data for Pa. and Wash.
4. Excludes data for Calif.
5. Percent of births less than 37 completed weeks of gestation.
6. Low birthweight is birthweight of less than 2,500 grams (5 lb 8 oz). Very low birthweight is birthweight of less than 1,500 grams (3 lb 4 oz).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Reports, vol. 54, no. 8, Dec. 29, 2005. Web: www.cdc.gov/nchs .

Births: Other Data for 2004BirthsGestational Age and Birthweight Characteristics by Plurality: United States, 2002
Births
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