Leaving Room for You and Me

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released a study that reports the lowest teenage birth rates in the US since such statistics were first recorded nearly 70 years ago.

The report also details downward trends in birthrates for other demographics.

Researchers from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics collected data from birth records from virtually all of the United States and its territories. They found that, in 2008, the rate was about 41 births for every 1,000 teens. In 2009, that rate dropped to about 39 births for every 1,000 teens.

Additionally, the CDC reports a decline in birth rates to unmarried mothers and women in their early 20s as well as a drop in preterm births. The absolute number of births to unmarried mothers fell in 2009. However, as the total numbers of births also has declined, the ratio of unmarried births to total births has grown slightly. The report also shows a 7 percent decline in births to women in their early 20s. For the third year in a row, 2009 showed a decline of preterm births, which made up about 12 percent of all births.

The CDC report, which highlights a general downward trend in birth rates, also shows an increase in cesarean deliveries. The entire report is available online here: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr59/nvsr59_03.pdf