Query Results for Birth Outcomes - Percentage of Very Low Birthweight (less than 1500 grams) Live, Singleton Births

Data Notes

• Map Guidance

  For guidance on NM-IBIS map categories, please visit the [[a href="./resources/MapChoroClasses.html" IBIS map guidance page]].

• Metadata

  For the complete metadata file, please see the [[a href="./dataportal/metadata/PercentVeryLowBirthweight.html" Infant Very Low Birth Weight]] metadata file.

• New Mexico Resident Births

  This query includes only births to women who were New Mexico residents.

• Very Low Birth Weight

  Birthweight is the first weight of the newborn obtained after birth. Very low birthweight is defined as singleton, term births weighing less than 1,500 grams or 3 pounds 5 ounces. Term birth is defined here as the birth at or above 37 completed weeks of gestation.

Data Sources

Data Issues

• New Mexico Birth Certificate Data

  The live birth data are from items reported on the birth certificates. Data are collected on all births occurring in-state as well as births to NM resident mothers that occur out-of-state.

• Birth Certificate Data

  Birth certificate information is submitted electronically by hospital medical records staff who use standard mother and facility worksheets and medical charts to collect the needed information. Training of hospital staff is provided by the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (BVRHS). The birth certificate information is reviewed by BVRHS for completeness and consistency with state law and NMDOH and national guidelines. BVRHS will contact hospital staff for clarification of missing, inconsistent or incorrect entries. CDC's National Center for Health Statistics provides feedback to BVRHS on data quality and the NMDOH provides feedback to the hospitals to improve data quality and training.