Many factors affect region’s troubled pregnancies
February 27, 2005
For every 1,000 live births in the United States, seven babies never reach their first birthday, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And next, the perspective on what those numbers mean: The United States falls behind 41 other countries, including the far-more-impoverished Cuba. The rates in Japan and Sweden are less than half. The best rate, in Singapore, is 2.3 deaths per 1,000 births. Virginia roughly matches the national rate, falling near the middle of the pack, compared with other states. The state has improved significantly since 1990, when more than 10 babies in the state died for every 1,000 born. As for Hampton Roads, health studies regularly single out the region for a high number of low-birth-weight babies and infant deaths. Individual cities and counties often do worse than the state as a whole, though annual data can fluctuate greatly, and some localities recently have done better with infant mortality. In Hampton, the infant mortality rate was close to 10 deaths for every 1,000 live births in 2003, according to the most updated statistics posted by the Virginia Department of Health. Williamsburg had 10.6 deaths for every 1,000, and James City County was at 9.4 per 1,000 (more than double its rate in 2001 and 2002). Newport News was at 6.5 per 1,000, but the city was at 17 per 1,000 in 2002. York County was a brighter spot in 2003, with 3.5 deaths per 1,000 births. Beyond the babies who die, many more are born early, tiny and sick. Why? Locally and nationwide, more women are going into labor too soon. At least 12 percent of babies – about one in eight – are born before spending the normal 37 to 40 weeks in the womb, an increase of 30 percent from 1980. There are two main reasons: More first-time mothers are older than 35, and more are carrying multiple fetuses after fertility treatments, risk factors for early labor and birth defects. Poverty, substance abuse, obesity and a lack of prenatal care also can lead to troubled pregnancies. Hampton Roads struggles with all four. In Hampton and Newport News, for example, between 15 percent and 20 percent of women don’t get prenatal care during the first three months of pregnancy, according to a 2004 report from a local health coalition called Access Partnership. Teenage pregnancy is another problem. Very young mothers are more likely to have premature or low-birth-weight babies, defined as weighing less than 5 pounds, 5 ounces. Many hide their pregnancies early on and don’t get medical attention. Others don’t eat or sleep enough. Virginia’s teen pregnancy rate has fallen to 27.6 births for every 1,000 girls, and many Hampton Roads cities have made progress, too. Still, Newport News’ rate was 43.8 per 1,000 in 2003, according to health department statistics, and Hampton’s rate was 32 per 1,000. Again, other localities did better, such as York County, at 9.8 births per 1,000 girls. For mothers-to-be of all ages, Hampton Roads’ transient population can be isolating. Without family or friends nearby, many don’t get enough rest or suffer from stress, especially if they have other children or a spouse on military deployment. “There are so many factors,” neonatologist Dr. Adel Abdallah said. “That’s why it’s such a hard battle to win.”
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