Low Birth Weight
Infants born weighing less than 2500 grams (5 pounds and 8 ounces) are at increased risk of serious health problems including the risk of death before the first birthday. In 1990, 7.4% of babies born in Florida weighed less than 2500 grams. In 2010, 8.73% of births were low birthweight and in 2022, the proportion continued to rise to 9.09%.
Preterm Birth
Infants born before completing 37 weeks of gestation are classified as preterm births. These infants are at greater risk of health and developmental problems including increased risk of death before their first birthday. In 1990, 8.5% of births in Florida were preterm. This percentage rose to 10.46% in 2010 and has remained in the 10-11% range since. In 2022, 10.55% of births were preterm.
Medicaid and Delivery Payment Source
Medicaid was the payment source for delivery for 48.82% of Florida's births in 2010. In 2022, the proportion decreased to 43.66%.
Delivery Method
Since 1990, the proportion of Florida's deliveries that are C-Section increased. In 1990, 25.5% of births were delivered by C-Section. This proportion dropped to 21.9% in 1995 but rose again to 25.5% in 2000, then reached a high of 38.1% in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Since then, the percent of births delivered by C-section has decreased to 35.9% in 2022.