Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Advisor

Jeannette Manger

Abstract

Although medical advancements have improved the outcomes for infants born with low birth weight (LBW), these interventions are very expensive and low birth weight still was attributed to 16.1% of infant deaths in the United States in 20201. By understanding the factors that influence the incidence of low birth weight in the United States, preventative measures can be implemented to reduce the need for costly interventions and enhance infant health outcomes. In this study, we focused on 38 counties in Ohio that had either 75% or greater rural regions or 30% or less rural regions. Additionally, we focused on four variables from County Health Rankings: percentage of adults with obesity, average daily PM2.5 exposure, primary care provider ratio, and percentage of individuals with limited access to healthy foods. We analyzed the correlations between these variables and the incidence of low birth weight and also looked at which variables were able to predict the incidence of low birth weight. There has been no significant change in the incidence of low birth weight in 2020 compared to 2025, but there was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of low birth weight between urban and rural counties. Although there was no statistically significant correlation between LBW and either the average daily PM2.5 exposure or obesity (p=0.055; p=0.872), there was a statistically significant positive correlation between the incidence of LBW and areas that had more limited access to healthy foods (p=0.036) and a negative correlation between LBW and PCP ratio (p=0.001).

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