Outcome Area 1: Children get a healthy start in life.
Children who have a healthy start in life have a higher likelihood to have healthier development in later stages than those who do not. In this outcome area, we focus on three specific indicators that can contribute to a healthy start in life:
Early prenatal care, which starts in the first trimester of pregnancy, can help prevent medical complications and also inform women about important steps they can take to protect their infant for a healthier pregnancy.
Low birth weight (infants born weighing less than 5 lbs., 8 oz.) face a higher risk of a number of serious health conditions that can have long-term effects.
Preterm births (infants born less than 37 weeks of gestation) result in higher rates of health complications and potential lifelong disabilities, and difficulties with complex language functions.
Undesired outcomes in these particular areas can put an infant's life at risk and be a significant burden on the parents or caregivers. These can also incur enormous economic costs in the future, including higher medical expenditures, special education and social service expenses, and decreased productivity for infants and their caregivers.
Core Indicators
Outcome Area 1: Children get a healthy start in life.
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Core Indicator: Percentage of births to mothers who began prenatal care in the first trimester of their pregnancy02Data Source: Virginia Department of Health, Division of Health Statistics
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Core Indicator: Percentage of births in which the newborn weighed less than 2,500 grams (5 lbs., 8 oz.)Data Source: Virginia Department of Health, Division of Health Statistics
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Core Indicator: Percentage of live births that are preterm (<37 weeks of gestation)Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Vital Statistics System -Natality (NVSS-N)
