Preterm Births(<37 Weeks Gestation)

Number of resident infants born alive prior to the 37^th completed week of gestation and the percent this number is of total live births for the noted time period.

Number of resident infants born alive and weighing less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds) and the percent this number is of total live births for the noted time period.

Number of resident low birth weight infants (less than 2,500 grams) born after the 36^th completed week of gestation and the percent this number is of all infants born at or beyond 37 completed weeks of gestation.

Number of resident infants born alive and weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 5 ounces) and the percent this number is of total live births for the noted time period.

Number of resident singleton infants whose birth weight is below the 10^th percentile for their gender and gestational age. Tenth percentile cut points were acquired from the 1991 United States National Reference for Fetal Growth (Alexander GR et al., Obst & Gyn. Vol. 87, No. 2, Feb. 1996 p. 167). Rate is percent of singleton resident live births with known calculated gestational age that are small for gestational age (SGA).

Number of resident infants born with birth defects diagnosed in the first year of life. Rate is per 10,000 live births for the noted time period. Birth defects are congenital defects of body structure or function, likely to result in mental or physical handicap or death. Specific conditions included are those listed in the 740-759 Congenital Anomalies section of the International Classifications of Diseases - 9^th Revision. Certain conditions of little or no medical or cosmetic significance, such as supernumerary digits, common birth marks, tongue tie, and undescended testicle in preterm infants, also ICD-9 codes 743.65, 744.1, 750.0, 755.0, 757.3, 757.9 and 747.0 or 752.5 in preterm infants are excluded. The information is acquired from the Missouri Birth Defect Registry, which is a passive system. The Birth Defect Registry uses information from the following files to ascertain cases: birth certificates, death certificates, newborn inpatient abstract system, pediatric in- and outpatient abstracts, the DHSS data base for children enrolled in programs such as Children with Special Health Care Needs and the Department of Mental Health First Steps (early intervention) data base.

Neural Tube Defects (NTD)

Resident live births with neural tube defects noted from Missouri Birth Defect Registry. Neural tube defects include 1) anencephaly, the congenital absence of most or all of the brain, a uniformly fatal defect; and/or 2) spinal bifida, the congenital defective closure of the spinal column with profusion of the spinal cord, resulting in varying degrees of disability, including bowel and bladder control difficulties and paralysis. Rate is per 10,000 live births for the noted time period.

Resident very low birth weight infants (less than 1,500 grams) delivered in Level III perinatal care centers. Rate is per 100 very low birth weight infants to Missouri residents recorded in Missouri hospitals.

Unduplicated number of resident infants certified in the WIC Infant program during noted year and the percent this number is of total resident live births. Residents are eligible for the WIC Infant program from birth to their first birthday. WIC participation is acquired from the WIC Certification data sets. WIC data could be undercounted for any given county due to problems in identifying county of residency from the WIC Certification data sets. Percent (rate) for any given county may exceed 100 due to in-migration to that geographic area.

Infants participating in the WIC program that were breastfed sometime in their infancy, without regard to duration, divided by the total number of infants participating in WIC (prior to their first birthday--unduplicate count.)

Number of resident infants (less than one year of age) eligible for Medicaid (having a Medicaid card -unduplicative count) on December 31 of given year and the percent this number is of total resident live births for calendar year. Medicaid status is acquired from Department of Social Services files. Percent may be over 100 due to in migration to geographic area.

The total number of resident deaths to babies born alive and dying during the first 27 days of life. Rate is per 1,000 live births for the noted eleven-year period.

The total number of resident fetal deaths 20 or more week's gestation plus neonatal deaths. Rate is per 1,000 (live births plus fetal deaths) for the noted eleven-year period.

The total number of resident deaths to babies born alive and dying after 27 days of life and before one year of age. Rate is per 1,000 live births for the noted eleven-year period.

The total number of resident deaths to babies born alive and dying before their first birthday. Rate is per 1,000 live births during the noted eleven-year period.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

The total number of resident deaths to babies born alive and dying during infancy before their first birthday with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (prior to 1999 ICD-9 code 7980 and 1999 forward ICD-10 code of R95) noted as the underlying cause of death. Rate is per 1,000 live births during the noted eleven-year period. SIDS is defined as the sudden death of an infant less than one year of age, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene and review of the clinical history. The number may not agree with the Death MICA because the Death MICA includes SIDS above the age of one.