Report Shows Birth Rate Reaches Record Low

US News wire ^ | 6/25/03 | na

[Quas primas]

Report Shows Birth Rate Reaches Record Low; Births to Teens Continue Decline, Cesarean Deliveries Reach All-Time High

6/25/03 11:55:00 AM

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To: National Desk, Health Reporter

Contact: CDC/NCHS Press Office, 301) 458-4800

WASHINGTON, June 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The U.S. birth rate fell to the lowest level since national data have been available, reports the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) birth statistics released today by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. Secretary Thompson also noted that the rate of teen births fell to a new record low, continuing a decline that began in 1991.

The birth rate was 13.9 per 1,000 persons in 2002, a decline of 1 percent from the rate of 14.1 per 1,000 in 2001 and down 17 percent from the recent peak in 1990 (16.7 per 1,000), according to a new CDC report, "Births: Preliminary Data for 2002." The current low birth rate primarily reflects the smaller proportion of women of childbearing age in the U.S. population, as baby boomers age and Americans are living longer.

There has also been a recent downturn in the birth rate for women in the peak childbearing ages. Birth rates for women in their 20s and early 30s were generally down while births to older mothers (35-44) were still on the rise. Rates were stable for women over 45.

Birth rates among teenagers were down in 2002, continuing a decline that began in 1991. The birth rate fell to 43 births per 1,000 females 15-19 years of age in 2002, a 5-percent decline from 2001 and a 28- percent decline from 1990. The decline in the birth rate for younger teens, 15-17 years of age, is even more substantial, dropping 38 percent from 1990 to 2002 compared to a drop of 18 percent for teens 18-19.

"The reduction in teen pregnancy has clearly been one of the most important public health success stories of the past decade," Secretary Thompson said. "The fact that this decline in teen births is continuing represents a significant accomplishment."

More than one fourth of all children born in 2002 were delivered by cesarean; the total cesarean delivery rate of 26.1 percent was the highest level ever reported in the United States. The number of cesarean births to women with no previous cesarean birth jumped 7 percent and the rate of vaginal births after previous cesarean delivery dropped 23 percent. The cesarean delivery rate declined during the late 1980s through the mid-1990s but has been on the rise since 1996.

Among other significant findings:

-- In 2002, there were 4,019,280 births in the United States, down slightly from 2001 (4,025,933).

-- The percent of low birth weight babies (infants born weighing less than 2,500 grams) increased to 7.8 percent, up from 7.7 percent in 2001 and the highest level in more than 30 years. In addition, the percent of pre-term births (infants born at less than 37 weeks of gestation) increased slightly over 2001, from 11.9 percent to 12 percent.

-- More than one-third of all births were to unmarried women. The birth rate for unmarried women was down slightly in 2002 to 43.6 per 1,000 unmarried women, reflecting the growing number of unmarried women in the population.

-- Access to prenatal care continued a slow and steady increase. In 2002, 83.8 percent of women began receiving prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy, up from 83.4 percent in 2001 and 75.8 percent in 1990.

Data on births are based on information reported on birth certificates filed in state vital statistics offices and reported to CDC through the National Vital Statistics System. The report is available on CDC's National Center for Health Statistics web site at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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[DoughtyOne]

Before I was married the second time, my current wife and I discussed children at length. I explained that there was about a zero chance in hell that I'd put myself in the position of being exposed to blackmail for in excess of 20 years ever again.

I have always considered it my responsibility to share in the support of my children. I never considered it my responsibility to pay in excess of what was needed to support them while my ex wife(ves) took a couple weekend trips per month on my dime.

I also found it excruciatingly painful to try to enforce my visitation rights while she played the manipulation game full tilt. NEVER again! Not this guy.

[LS]

Um, you might check WORLDWIDE birth rates: they have fallen in EVERY COUNTRY, including India and China, and are below replacement levels in EVERY COUNTRY except India and China, which are projected to be below replacement levels in a few years.

The entire population of the earth is growing more slowly. Leave that idiot Buchanan out of it. When people get $750 per capita per year (that's right, per year), birth rates hit a plateau in all countries. Virtually everyone has hit that rate now.

[LS]

Well, fat chance, because the "third world" is also declining in birth rates and most of THOSE countries have dipped into below replacement levels. Check out the UN's latest population stats.

[Dialup Llama]

>Prager was just talking about the declining birth rate in Europe. One country, I believe Germany, would have to let 500,000 young immigrants into is country every year for the next 30 years to keep it afloat.

What they need to keep alfoat is the welfare state pyramid...a project which is unatenable. Pyramids cannot be sustained by new participants any more than one or 1/2 more generation. People know how many kids to have based on economic conditions. I know people unfortunately who have to work two jobs (not for a big screen TV) but for a modest house to live in and to pay the taxes. All the while net govt aid recipients enjoy a life where their own children are mostly paid for by the taxes of others. Sornette (the stock market bubble guy) says that between now (for Japan) and 50 years for other countries, the economy will have to shift to a state where growth is not dependent upon a steady, unending population growth.

[Dialup Llama]

What they need to keep alfoat is the welfare state pyramid...a project which is unatenable. Pyramids cannot be sustained by new participants any more than one or 1/2 more generation.

People know how many kids to have based on economic conditions. I know people unfortunately who have to work two jobs (not for a big screen TV) but for a modest house to live in and to pay the taxes. All the while net govt aid recipients enjoy a life where their own children are mostly paid for by the taxes of others.

Sornette (the stock market bubble guy) says that between now (for Japan) and 50 years for other countries, the economy will have to shift to a state where growth is not dependent upon a steady, unending population growth.

[Salvation]

I am predicting that in two years we will have a reversal in this trend.

Reasoning, more mothers are choosing to stay home with children so they will have more children.

Secondly, there is a strong swing from the far left in the church (especially Catholic) to the right more conservative point of view. It's barely discernable at this time, but hang out in the Religion forum for a few days and you will sense it.

Third, I believe that Americans are waking up to the fact that if we don't sustain our birth rates, then we will become a nation of mostly Hispanics. This is alarming to some, but not to all.

Another reason is that with the dangers of contraception more young couples are choosing to practice Natural Family Planning. There are too many dangers with the pill and other choices. Likewise, abortions are going down. Will this signal an increase in births?

Any thoughts, anyone? (Now that I've gone out on a limb!)

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

Without a birthrate, borders, language and culture will simply disappear without a whimper.

[You Dirty Rats]

It's not true that population growth has fallen below replacement levels in every single country except India and China. There are many countries with rapidly increasing populations in the third world.

Here's a link for you.

http://www.prb.org/pdf/WorldPopulationDS02_Eng.pdf

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

Utah cannot not hold up Northern Tier civilizations even with the current college try.

[Aric2000]

The number of cesarean births to women with no previous cesarean birth jumped 7 percent and the rate of vaginal births after previous cesarean delivery dropped 23 percent.

I find this statistic sickening, the Doctors have now decided that convenience is better then natural birth.

My wife had A c-section because our first was breech, when we had our 2nd, we had to FIGHT, and I mean FIGHT to have a VBAC, then we moved up to Washington, there are ONLY 2 hospitals in the ENTIRE state that will do a VBAC, so we had our son at home with a midwife.

The medical profession is OUT of control in this respect as far as I am concerned.

It is easier for the Doctor to do a C-section, and the insurance company is just gonna pay for it anyway, but the woman who has a c-section now is going to have a VERY hard time EVER having a baby naturally after a c-section, even though there is ONLY 1/2 of 1 percent chance of complications.

Pretty SAD as far as I am concerned.

[cherry]

"NEVER again! Not this guy."

probably a good thing for the gene pool that you're sitting it out.....

[cherry]

"Third, I believe that Americans are waking up to the fact that if we don't sustain our birth rates, then we will become a nation of mostly Hispanics. This is alarming to some, but not to all."

this is not upsetting to me although our culture will change for sure....

we had better be ready to accept it or we will live the rest of our lives as bitter old fools....and we better prepare our kids as well....

but look out for the Russians.....they are coming here too and they also have very large families....

our nation is changing...

[honeygrl]

"Not around here - my building is full of kids, although I think we have the most (6) in one apartment. "

In our neighborhood we just had 2 different families, each with 5 young children, move into 2 bedroom apartments. The max sq ft for the 2 bedrooms is 1200sqft here. Now, I am assuming they are 2 bedrooms because I know for a fact our building has only 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. But I can't imagine a family of 7 in a 1 bedroom so I'm assuming the apartments are 2 bdrms. Can you imagine sharing 1 small bedroom with 4 siblings? And I don't see how it could be a money issue because there are 3 bdrm apartments around town cheaper than our 2bdrm here.

[Weimdog]

2003 has been a "baby boom" for our office as well.

4 new Americans in the last 6 months!

God help them. Imagine what their tax burden will be...

[Aric2000]

Our nation is indeed changing, now if we can get rid of the bilingual education and the PC crap, we must be understanding of other peoples cultures etc, ad nauseum, we would be much better off.

It is NOT our job to change to fit an immigrants culture, it is THEIR job to fit into ours. We WILL not and SHOULD NOT change for ANY immigrant, they either change to fit into ours, or they can get on a plane or boat or whatever and go back home.

Once that occurs, WE will be just fine. Until that occurs though, we are in deep KAKA!!

[DoughtyOne]

Fool me once, shame on you.

When you've walked a mile in my shoes, you can talk.

[Polycarp]

Father Paul Marx often said that, once a culture enters into a non-replacement birth rate, it never recovers. It is a sign of societal collapse, and it has never been successfully reversed before its attendant collapse.

[Salvation]

**our nation is changing...**

Definitely!

[Salvation]

**God help them. Imagine what their tax burden will be...**

Or tax advantage if they choose to own a home business too!

[nickcarraway]

Bump for Fr. Marx!