Hospitalizations for Childbirth: Multiple Births

Why important?
Hospitalizations related to childbirth are an important part of Hawaii’s health care sector. In 2007, women experienced 18,699 childbirths in Hawaii’s community hospitals, making the delivery of infants the most common reason for hospitalization.

Demographics
In 2007, the average charge for childbirth was $5,357, and the average length of stay was 3.2 days. Women aged 20 to 29 had the highest birth rate per 1,000 female population.  The birth rate in Hawaii varied by region with East Honolulu having the lowest rate (18 births per 1,000 female population) and Waianae (Oahu) having the highest rate (43 births per 1,000 female population).

Although older women have the lower birth rates, they are increasing likely to have multiple births and low birth weight infants. Women aged 45 and older are at highest risk of having a multiple gestations/births and low birth weight infants.  
 
Multiple births
Multiple birth deliveries are associated with higher average hospital charges, with triplets averaging $78,882 per baby per stay compared to $4,840 per stay for a single baby.  A key reason multiple gestations are associated with higher cost is its relationship with preterm birth.  In Hawaii, the rate of preterm birth for women carrying a single baby was 5.5% during 2007.  In comparison, 31% of women carrying twins delivered preterm babies; for a woman carrying triplets the likelihood she would deliver a preterm baby was close to 70%.  Premature deliveries are associated low birth weight, an increasing need for intensive care and longer length of stays, resulting in a more expensive medical care. 

Data notes
ICD9 codes: newborns: V30; moms: DRG 370-375

Source of data
Hawaii – HHIC Online Reports, Inpatient Database, 2007 hospitalization data unless otherwise stated.