- In 2022, 1 in 10 babies (9.7% of live births) was born preterm in Virginia.
- In 2022, 1 in 12 babies (8.4% of live births) was low birthweight in Virginia.
- In Virginia in 2021, 571 infants died before reaching their first birthday, an infant mortality rate of 6.0 per 1,000 live births.
- In Virginia in 2022, 79.8% of infants were born to women receiving adequate/adequate plus prenatal care.
- In Virginia in 2022, 32.3% of live births were Cesarean deliveries.
- In 2021, about 1 in 12 women of childbearing age (8.3%) was uninsured in Virginia.
In an average week in Virginia:
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Data Topics
Use this page to browse the multiple different data sets and indicators that PeriStats offers on maternal and infant health subjects. The data search tool on this page will guide you through the data we continually update.
Mortality and Morbidity
Infant mortality is defined as death occurring during the first year of life. In the United States, approximately 20,000 babies die each year from causes including birth defects, preterm birth and sudden infant death syndrome. In addition to giving us key information about maternal and infant health, the infant mortality rate is an important marker of the overall health of a society.* Neonatal mortality is typically associated with events surrounding the prenatal period and the delivery, whereas post neonatal deaths are more likely to be associated with conditions or events that arise after the delivery and may reflect environmental factors.
Maternal mortality is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the termination of a pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management, but not due to accidental or incidental causes of death.** From 2018 to 2021, 870 maternal deaths occurred each year, on average3 and every year 50,000 women experience a life-threatening complication (sometimes called a “near-miss”) or severe maternal morbidity. High rates of maternal morbidity or mortality indicate inequalities in access to quality health services and can highlight disparities between different populations.4
Measures of mortality and morbidity provided on PeriStats include:
- Late fetal mortality (28 or more weeks of gestation) and perinatal mortality (fetal deaths of 28 or more weeks gestation and infant deaths in the first 7 days of life)
- Infant mortality, including neonatal mortality (0-27 days) and post neonatal mortality (28 days – under 1 year)
- Causes of infant death
- Maternal mortality
- Severe maternal morbidity
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infant mortality. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/infantmortality.htm#causes
2. World Health Organization. International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, 10th revision (ICD–10). 2008 ed. Geneva, Switzerland. 2009.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2021/maternal-mortality-rates-2021.htm#ref1
4. World Health Organization. Maternal mortality. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
Last updated: February 2024
Reports
State summary reports consist of several different reports that the Perinatal Data Center has created in order to use data to tell a story about maternal and child health in your state. While some individual datapoints will overlap, each report has a different focus. These reports may be useful to use for local policy changes or programs.
Infographic
The March of Dimes Report Card indicates the maternal and infant health crisis is worsening. You can make a difference. Share your state's grade on your social channels, by email or by text and encourage others to take action by advocating for change.