Birth Outcomes
In 2021, 8.7% of babies born in San Juan County experienced low birth weight, considered to be a poor health outcome for infants. San Juan has historically ben statistically better on this outcome, but numbers were more similar in 2021.
Another child-maternal health indicator, the infant mortality rate of 6.7 infant deaths per 1,000 births in San Juan County is slightly above rates across New Mexico (5.3) and the U.S. (5.4).
Low Birth Weight
Trends & Race-Ethnicity
Prenatal Care
Prenatal care is a health factor that plays a central role in infant and child health. Doctors recommend that women see their health care provider before the 13th week of pregnancy and to go back for at least 13 visits before birth. San Juan County and New Mexico have been consistently below the U.S. for this indicator.
In San Juan County, in 2021, just over two-thirds (68.6%) of pregnant women receive the recommended first trimester prenatal care, compared to 66% across New Mexico and 78% across the U.S.
Native American women are less likely to receive prenatal care than White women in San Juan County, and rates for Hispanic women fall between these rates. Rates have improved recently among all race/ethnicities.
Teen Birth Rate
Teen birth rate is a leading social indicator of maternal and child health. Teen pregnancies are more likely to result in health problems for both mother and baby, and parenting challenges can create social and economic hardship.
Of the 1,282 births in San Juan County in 2021, 106 or 7.3% were to teen mothers (age 15-19).
There has been a substantial decline in teen pregnancy, although San Juan County’s rate continues to be above the U.S. rate.
National Data: https://www.americashealthrankings.org
PRAMS is a surveillance system supported through a cooperative agreement with the New Mexico Department of Health Maternal Child Health Epidemiology Program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://ibis.health.state.nm.us/query/selection/prams/_PRAMSSelection.html