Darling Rosa D, Atav A Serdar
Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA.
Policy Polit Nurs Pract. 2012 Feb;13(1):17-26. doi: 10.1177/1527154412442391. Epub 2012 May 14.
The rate of low birth weight (LBW) is a national concern. In New York counties in 2009, the LBW rate was 8.2%. Reducing LBW has significant humanitarian and economic implications. At an average cost of $51,600 per infant, care for infants weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth is substantial. The purpose of this study was to identify demographic, socioeconomic, and health service factors that contribute to LBW among counties in New York. Analyses of data indicated that the number of MOMs providers and teen pregnancy rate were the strongest predictors for LBW. These findings reinforce the fact that LBW is a correctable phenomenon that can be addressed through public policy. With increasing budget cuts, provision of health services and implementation of programs that address teen pregnancy have become challenging. Public policy decisions and stewardship that support programs that increase the number of providers for the uninsured, underinsured, and economic underclass and maintain programs for the pregnant adolescent will help New York counties in their fight against LBW.
低体重儿（LBW）出生率是一个全国性关注的问题。2009年在纽约各县，低体重儿出生率为8.2%。降低低体重儿出生率具有重大的人道主义和经济意义。出生时体重不足2500克的婴儿，平均每个婴儿的护理成本为51,600美元，费用相当可观。本研究的目的是确定纽约各县中导致低体重儿出生的人口统计学、社会经济和卫生服务因素。数据分析表明，产妇护理提供者的数量和青少年怀孕率是低体重儿出生率的最强预测因素。这些发现强化了这样一个事实，即低体重儿出生率是一种可纠正的现象，可以通过公共政策加以解决。随着预算削减的增加，提供卫生服务以及实施解决青少年怀孕问题的项目变得具有挑战性。支持增加为未参保者、未充分参保者和经济弱势群体提供服务的提供者数量的项目，并维持针对怀孕青少年的项目的公共政策决策和管理，将有助于纽约各县应对低体重儿出生率问题。
