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Canadian Institute for Health Information
After declining for a number of years, the number of underweight babies born in Canadian hospitals began to increase in 2001-2002, steadily growing from 5.7% of births to 6.2% of births in 2005-2006, or one in every 16 babies. These low birth weight babies often spend a long time in hospital and may experience lifelong complications and challenges. A new analysis available today from the Canadian Institute for Health Information also looks at these low birth weight rates, along with C-section rates, epidural use and assisted delivery rates at a national, provincial and health region level.