Very low birth weight among infants, by race/ethnicity, 1985-2002 (line graph): 2002: non-Hispanic White, 1.2%; non-Hispanic Black, 3.1%; Hispanic, 1.2%; American Indian/Alaska Native, 1.3%; Asian/Pacific Islander, 1.1%. Rates of very low births weight have increased among all racial/ethnic groups, with the most dramatic increase among non-Hispanic Blacks.

Source: Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, Ventura SJ, Menacker F, Munson ML. Births: Final Data for 2002. National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 52, No. 10. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.