West Virginia mothers are delivering a higher percentage of low-birth-weight babies in recent years than they have at any time during the past 25 years, according to a new study.

The state's percentage of underweight babies has increased steadily from a low of 5.8 percent in 1982 to a high of 8.2 percent in 2006, the most recent year data was available. That's about 1,700 low-birth-weight infants born that year. 

West Virginia ranks No. 1 in the nation in the percentage of underweight babies born to white women, according to the state Health Statistics Center report.

The numbers point to a "dire forecast" unless something is done to reverse the increase in low-birth-weight babies, researchers concluded.  

"We have to be concerned about this trend upward," said Jim Doria, statistical services unit manager at the Health Statistics Center. "If we don't intervene, we'll be caught in a perpetual cycle of negative health outcomes associated with low birth weights."

The report determined that mothers who themselves were born underweight - 5 1/2 pounds or less - were much more likely to have low-birth-weight babies.

Underweight babies are more likely to die in their first year of life.

"It's a major cause of infant death," Doria said. "It's the most significant indication of infant survival."

Low birth weights also are linked to long-term disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, diabetes, and vision and hearing impairments.

The cost of delivering a low-birth-weight baby at a hospital averages about three times as much as a normal-weight infant.

The study excluded mothers who had twins or multiple births, because those babies tend to be smaller and would have skewed the study's findings, Doria said. 

The increase of underweight infants comes despite statewide efforts - led by children's advocacy groups - to lower the percentage of low-birth-weight babies. The state's Healthy People 2010 initiative, for instance, set a goal to reduce the percentage of underweight babies to 5 percent - a target that now seems unreachable.

West Virginia mothers are delivering a higher percentage of low-birth-weight babies in recent years than they have at any time during the past 25 years, according to a new study.

The state's percentage of underweight babies has increased steadily from a low of 5.8 percent in 1982 to a high of 8.2 percent in 2006, the most recent year data was available. That's about 1,700 low-birth-weight infants born that year. 

West Virginia ranks No. 1 in the nation in the percentage of underweight babies born to white women, according to the state Health Statistics Center report.

The numbers point to a "dire forecast" unless something is done to reverse the increase in low-birth-weight babies, researchers concluded.  

"We have to be concerned about this trend upward," said Jim Doria, statistical services unit manager at the Health Statistics Center. "If we don't intervene, we'll be caught in a perpetual cycle of negative health outcomes associated with low birth weights."

The report determined that mothers who themselves were born underweight - 5 1/2 pounds or less - were much more likely to have low-birth-weight babies.

Underweight babies are more likely to die in their first year of life.

"It's a major cause of infant death," Doria said. "It's the most significant indication of infant survival."

Low birth weights also are linked to long-term disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, diabetes, and vision and hearing impairments.

The cost of delivering a low-birth-weight baby at a hospital averages about three times as much as a normal-weight infant.

The study excluded mothers who had twins or multiple births, because those babies tend to be smaller and would have skewed the study's findings, Doria said. 

The increase of underweight infants comes despite statewide efforts - led by children's advocacy groups - to lower the percentage of low-birth-weight babies. The state's Healthy People 2010 initiative, for instance, set a goal to reduce the percentage of underweight babies to 5 percent - a target that now seems unreachable.

Researchers declined to speculate on the reasons for the steady increase in low-birth-weight babies.

Previous studies have found that mothers who smoke, have poor nutrition and abuse drugs and alcohol are more likely to deliver low-birth-weight infants.

Genetics also plays a role.

Another issue: Many young West Virginia women must travel an hour or two to receive maternity care. Pregnant women who don't get frequent monitoring are more likely to deliver underweight babies.

"We need to focus on bringing maternity care - not hospitalization for birth - closer to home for our pregnant women," said Nancy Tolliver, director of the state Perinatal Partnership.

In West Virginia, low birth weights were especially high among black infants - 12.2 percent in 2006. However, the rate of underweight black infants wasn't rising nearly as fast as low-birth-weight babies born to white mothers.

The report prompted researchers to make several recommendations.

Doria said women who were low-birth-weight babies themselves should receive more extensive monitoring during pregnancy.

Pregnant women also should be encouraged to eat right, quit smoking and seek prenatal medical care, according to the report.

During the past decade, low-birth-weight rates also have increased across the United States, but at a much slower clip than in West Virginia.

Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com or 348-4869.