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Home > Facts and Stats > Selected U.S. National Research Findings > Pregnancy and Reproductive Health

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health
Selected U.S. National Research Findings

Below are selected national women's health research findings and facts related to pregnancy/reproductive health. This information is selected text from articles or documents. Please view the source documents below each bulleted section to determine the exact context.

For more resources on this topic, visit: Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Women’s Health Topics A-Z
http://www.cdc.gov/women/az/reprhlth.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Abortion

• A total of 854,122 legal induced abortions were reported to CDC for 2002 from 49 reporting areas, representing a 0.1% increase from the 853,485 legal induced abortions reported by the same 49 reporting areas for 2001.

• The abortion ratio, defined as the number of abortions per 1,000 live births, was 246 in 2002, the same as reported for 2001.

• The abortion rate was 16 per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years for 2002, the same as for 2001.

• For the same 48 reporting areas, the abortion rate remained relatively constant during 1997-2002.

• The highest percentages of reported abortions were for women who were unmarried (82%), white (55%), and aged <25 years (51%).

• Of all abortions for which gestational age was reported, 60% were performed at <8 weeks' gestation and 88% at <13 weeks.

Source: Abortion Surveillance– United States, 2002
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5407a1.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Adolescents

• The percentage of male teens who reported ever having sexual intercourse decreased significantly for both younger (aged 15-17 years) and older (aged 18-19 years) teens from 1995 to 2002.

• Among females, the percentage who reported ever having sexual intercourse declined significantly for those aged 15-17 years.

Source: QuickStats: Percentage of Never-Married Teens Aged 15-19 Years Who Reported Ever Having Sexual Intercourse, by Sex and by Age Group- United States, 1995 and 2002
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5430a7.htm

• Since 1990, pregnancy rates have declined substantially for teenagers aged 15-17 years.

• From 1990 to 2000, the pregnancy rate [for teenagers] decreased 33%, from 80.3 per 1,000 females to 53.5, a record low.

• The birth rate [for teenagers] declined 42%, from its peak at 38.6 in 1991 to 22.4 in 2003.

• The induced abortion rate [for teenagers] peaked in 1983 at 30.7 and decreased by more than half to 14.5 by 2000.

Source: QuikStats - Pregnancy, Birth, and Abortion Rates for Teenagers Aged 15–17 Years- United States, 1976-2003
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5404a6.htm

• In 2002, about 47 percent of female teenagers (4.6 million), and about 46 percent of male teenagers (4.7 million) had had sexual intercourse at least once.

• Teenagers showed increases in the use of contraceptives. About 3 out of 4 teens used a method of contraception at their first intercourse.

• About 91 percent of males and 83 percent of females used a method at their last (most recent) sex.

Source: Teenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing, 2002
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_23/sr23_024.pdf

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Fertility

• The number of ART cycles performed in the United States has almost doubled, from 64,681 cycles in 1996 to 122,872 in 2003.

• The number of live-birth deliveries in 2003 (35,785) was about two and a half times higher than in 1996 (14,507).

• The number of infants born who were conceived using ART also increased steadily between 1996 and 2003.

• In 2003, 48,756 infants were born, which was more than double the 20,840 born in 1996.

• Because in some cases more than one infant is born during a live-birth delivery (e.g., twins), the total number of infants born is greater than the number of live-birth deliveries.

Source: 2003 Assisted Reproductive Technology Success Rates
http://www.cdc.gov/ART/ART2003/preface.htm

• In 2002, 7.4 percent of married women, or about 2.1 million women, were infertile (12 months or longer without birth control and without a pregnancy). This is about the same level as seen in 1995, but represents a significant decline from the prevalence of 8.4 percent in 1982.

Source: Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health of U.S. Women
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/series/sr23/pre-1/sr23_25.htm

• In 2002, a total of 115,392 ART procedures were reported to CDC. These procedures resulted in 33,141 live-birth deliveries and 45,751 infants

• Patients who undergo ART treatments are more likely to deliver multiple-birth infants than women who conceive naturally. Multiple births are associated with increased risk for mothers and infants (e.g., pregnancy complications, premature delivery, low-birthweight infants, and long-term disability among infants).

• Approximately 1% of U.S. infants born in 2002 were conceived through ART. The highest numbers of ART procedures were performed among residents of California (15,117), New York (13,276), Massachusetts (8,631), New Jersey (7,744), and Illinois (7,492). These five states also reported the highest number of infants conceived through ART.

Source: Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance- United States, 2002
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5402a1.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Birth Defects and Disabilities Prevention

• This Health e-stat provides a 13-year trend for two neural tube defects, spina bifida and anencephalus.

• After a significant increase in the spina bifida rate from 1992 to 1995, there was a significant decline from 1995 to 1999.

• The rate was stable from 1999 to 2003. The rate for 2003 was significantly lower than in 1998. The rate of spina bifida in 2003 was 18.89 per 100,000 live births, the lowest rate reported in this analysis.

Source: Trends in Spina Bifida and Anencephalus in the United States, 1991-2003
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/spine_anen.htm

• According to the 2005 March of Dimes Gallup survey, there was a decrease in the proportion of childbearing-aged women who reported taking folic acid in dietary supplements daily, from 40% in 2004 to 33% in 2005, returning to a level consistent with that reported during 1995-2003.

• These results emphasize the need for innovative programs to increase folic acid consumption to further reduce neural tube defects (NTD). Daily periconceptional consumption of 400 µg of folic acid, as recommended by the Public Health Service since 1992, reduces the occurrence of NTDs by 50%-70%.

Source: Use of Dietary Supplements Containing Folic Acid among Women of Childbearing Age- United States, 2005
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5438a4.htm

• Maternal prenatal alcohol use is one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities.

• Approximately one in 30 pregnant women in the United States reports “risk drinking” (seven or more drinks per week, or five or more drinks on any one occasion).

• More than half of all women of childbearing age in the United States report that they drink alcohol.

Source: Alcohol Use and Pregnancy, 2003
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/factsheets/FAS_alcoholuse.pdf

• The rate of any alcohol use (i.e., at least one drink) during pregnancy has declined since 1995.

• Rates of binge drinking (i.e., >5 drinks on any one occasion) and frequent drinking (i.e., >7 drinks per week or >5 drinks on any one occasion) during pregnancy have not declined, and these rates also have not declined among nonpregnant women of childbearing age.

• Pregnant women who are unmarried and older tend to have the highest rates of alcohol use.

• Women [of childbearing age] who drink alcohol are more likely than other women to be white, unmarried, younger, and working full time outside the home.

• Prenatal drinking patterns are highly predictive of alcohol use during pregnancy.

• Prenatal exposure to alcohol is one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects, mental retardation, and neurodevelopmental disorders in the United States.

Source: Alcohol Use Among Women of Childbearing Age - United States, 1991-1999
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5113a2.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Births

• According to 2004 preliminary birth data for the United States, there were 4.1 million births in 2004, nearly 1 percent more than in 2003.

• Childbearing by unmarried women reached a record high of almost 1.5 million births in 2004, up 4 percent from 2003.

• Teenage birth rates declined again in 2004, but at a much slower pace than observed since the declines started after 1991.

• Births to older women continue to increase.

Source: Preliminary Births Data for 2004
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/05facts/prelimbirths04.htm

• The rate of triplet and other higher-order multiple births increased substantially, from 37 per 100,000 live births in 1980 to 194 in 1998, a trend largely attributable to increased usage of fertility therapies.

• During 1999-2003, the rate of triplet and higher-order multiple births has remained stable.

Source: QuickStats: Rate of Triplet and Other Higher-Order Multiple Births- United States, 1980-2003
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5441a10.htm

• The birth rate for teenagers declined for the 12^th consecutive year in 2003, to 41.6 births per 1,000 women age 15–19 years, the lowest rate in more than six decades.

• The birth rate for 15–17 year olds in 2003 was 42 percent lower than the recent peak in 1991, and the birth rate for older teens 18–19 years of age was 25 percent lower than in 1991.

• In 2003 the birth rate for unmarried women increased to almost 45 births per 1,000 unmarried women age 15–44 years.

Source: Health, United States, 2005
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm

• According to preliminary data for 2004, birth rates in the United States for teenagers 15–19 years declined modestly.

• The rate for 10–14 year-olds increased slightly.

• The birth rate for women aged 20–24 years declined 1 percent to 101.8, a record low for the Nation. Childbearing by unmarried women rose to a record high of almost 1.5 million births in 2004.

• A record high cesarean delivery rate was reported in 2004, at 29.1 percent of all births, a 6-percent increase from 2003.

Source: Births: Preliminary Data for 2004
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr54/nvsr54_08.pdf

• Among females 15-44 years of age in the United States in 2002, about 14 percent of recent births to women 15-44 years of age in 2002 were unwanted at time of conception, an increase from the 9 percent seen for recent births in 1995.

• Among recent births, 64 percent occurred within marriage, 14 percent within cohabiting unions, and 21 percent to women who were neither married nor cohabiting. This indicates that among the recent births that were nonmarital, about 40 percent were to cohabiting women.

• Cohabitation has increased over the past decade: About 50 percent of women 15-44 had ever cohabited, compared with 41 percent of women in the 1995 survey; the percentage of women currently cohabiting also increased, from 7 to 9 percent between 1995 and 2002.

Source: Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health of U.S. Women
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/series/sr23/pre-1/sr23_25.htm

• With a decrease between 1990 and 1996 and an increase between 1996 and 2003, the trend in the cesarean rate for low-risk women having a first birth paralleled trends in the primary (regardless of parity) and total cesarean rates.

• During 1996–2003 the cesarean rate for low-risk women having a first birth has consistently been at least 13 percent lower than the rate for all women having a first birth.

• For 2003 the cesarean rate for all primiparous women was 27.1 percent; for low-risk women the rate was 23.6 percent.

Source: Trends in Cesarean Rates for First Births and Repeat Cesarean Rates for Low-Risk Women- United States, 1990-2003
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr54/nvsr54_04.pdf

• In 2003, there were 4,089,950 live births reported in the United States, 2 percent more than the number in 2002.

• In 2003, childbearing among teenagers and birth rates for women aged 20–24 years declined, whereas rates for women aged 25–44 years increased 2–6 percent, reaching highs not reported since the mid to late 1960s.

• In 2003, the cesarean delivery rate jumped another 5 percent to another all-time high, and the rate of vaginal birth after previous cesarean dropped 16 percent, an all-time low.

Source: Births: Final Data for 2003
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr54/nvsr54_02.pdf

• For the 63rd year in a row, the number of boys born in the United States outnumbers births of girls – in 2002 94,232 more boys than girls were born.

• Combining all the years studied, older mothers (40 to 44 years of age and 45 years and over) have the lowest total sex birth ratios (1,038 and 1,039, respectively) and mothers 15 to 19 years of age had the highest sex birth ratio (1,054).

• The more children a woman has the more likely she is going to give birth to an equal number of boys and girls.

• For all available years combined, Chinese mothers (1,074) and Filipino mothers (1,072) had the highest differences between the number of boys born compared with girls, whereas non-Hispanic black mothers (1,031) and American Indian mothers (1,031) had the lowest.

Source: Trend Analysis of the Sex Ratio at Birth in the United States
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr53/nvsr53_20.pdf

• Preliminary data for 2003 indicated that 27.6% of all births in the United States resulted from cesarean deliveries, an increase of 6% from 2002 and the highest percentage ever reported in the United States.

• After declines during 1989-1996, the total cesarean rate and the primary cesarean rate (i.e., percentage of cesareans among women with no previous cesarean delivery; 19.1% in 2003) have increased each year.

Source: QuickStats: Total and Primary Cesarean Rate and Vaginal Birth after Previous Cesarean (VBAC) Rate- United States, 1989-2003
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5402a5.htm

• In 2002, 7,315 females aged 10–14 years delivered a live birth in 2002.

• The rate of births to 10–14 year olds was 0.7 per 1,000 in 2002, half of the rate during 1989–94.

• Large declines in young teenage childbearing were seen among all racial and ethnic subgroups, as well as almost all States.

• These young mothers were least likely to receive timely prenatal care compared with mothers of older age groups.

• Compared with infants of mothers aged 20–39 years, infants of the youngest mothers experienced almost twice the rates of preterm delivery (21.3 percent) and low birthweight (12.6 percent).

Source: Births to 10–14 Year-Old Mothers, 1990–2002: Trends and Health Outcomes
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr53/nvsr53_07.pdf

• The overall rate for teenagers 15-19 years fell 27 percent between 1991 and 2001. The birth rate for black teenagers plummeted 37 percent.

• The birth rate for American Indian teenagers fell 33 percent and the rate for Hispanic teenagers dropped 17 percent between 1991 and 2001.

• Hispanic women account for about 3 in 10 teenage births.

Source: Revised Birth and Fertility Rates for the 1990s and New Rates for Hispanic Populations, 2000 and 2001: United States
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr51/nvsr51_12.pdf

• The mean age of mother has increased steadily in the United States over the last three decades.

• Mothers having their first and second live births had the largest increase in mean age.

• Among racial and Hispanic origin subgroups, Japanese women had the highest mean age in 2000, and Puerto Rican women had the lowest mean age.

• Massachusetts had the highest mean age in 2000 and Mississippi had the lowest.

Source: Mean Age of Mother, 1970 to 2000
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr51/nvsr51_01.pdf

• Birth rates for teenagers 15-19 years declined significantly in all States, the Virgin Islands, and Guam between 1991 and 2000. Declines by State ranged from 12 to 39 percent.

• In 2000, birth rates for teenagers 15-19 ranged from 23.4 per 1,000 in New Hampshire to 72.0 in Mississippi. Although not directly comparable, because it is a city, the highest rate was for the District of Columbia at 80.7.

Source: Teenage Births in the United States: State Trends, 1991-2000, an Update
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr50/nvsr50_09.pdf

• From 1991 to 1996, the cesarean rate declined while the vaginal birth after previous cesarean (VBAC) rate steadily increased.

• Since 1996, trends have reversed with cesareans now on the rise and the rate of VBACs declining to early 1990 levels.

Source: Trends in Cesarean Birth and Vaginal Birth After Previous Cesarean (VBAC), 1991-99
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr49/nvsr49_13.pdf

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Breastfeeding

• According to the 2004 National Immunization Survey, 71.5% of non-Hispanic white children were ever breastfed compared with 50.1% of non-Hispanic black children.

• Among those ever breastfed, 53.9% of non-Hispanic white and 43.2% of non-Hispanic black children continued breastfeeding until at least age 6 months.

• Disparities between black and white children existed within most socioeconomic subgroups studied.

Source: Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Breastfeeding- United States, 2004
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5512a3.htm?s_cid=mm5512a3_e

• The overall rate of breastfeeding among recent births increased from 55 to 67 percent between the 1995 and 2002 surveys. Babies born to non-Hispanic black mothers in 1997-2000 were nearly twice as likely to be breastfed as those born in 1990–93.

Source: Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health of U.S. Women
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/series/sr23/pre-1/sr23_25.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Contraception and Family Planning

• Non-Hispanic white and black women whose first intercourse occurred between 1990 and 2002 were more likely to have used a method of contraception at first intercourse than Hispanic women—80, 70, and 52 percent, respectively. Women with lower education, lower income, or who were Hispanic or non-Hispanic black, were less likely to use a method of contraception at their last intercourse.

Source: Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health of U.S. Women
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/series/sr23/pre-1/sr23_25.htm

• According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the majority of persons at risk for pregnancy were using birth control.

• Among female respondents using birth control, the pill was the most common method reported.

• Among men, vasectomy was the most commonly reported method.

• The prevalence of use for the four most commonly reported methods (pills, vasectomy, tubal ligation, condoms) varied as much as six-fold among states for vasectomy and three- to four-fold for condoms, pills, and tubal ligation.

Source: Contraceptive Use- United States and Territories, BRFSS, 2002
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5406a1.htm

• In 2002, the most frequent contraceptive method among women aged 15-44 years was oral contraception.

• In 2002, other leading [contraceptive] methods were female sterilization and the male condom.

• In 2002, a smaller, but significant, number of women were using the newer, long-acting hormonal [contraceptive] methods, including injectables, implants, and the patch.

Source: QuickStats: Primary Contraceptive Methods among Women Aged 15-44 Years– United States, 2002
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5406a5.htm

• The leading method of contraception in the United States in 2002 was the oral contraceptive pill, used by 11.6 million women; the second leading method was female sterilization, used by 10.3 million women. The condom was the third-leading method, used by about 9 million women and their partners.

• The condom is the leading method at first intercourse; the pill is the leading method among women under 30; and female sterilization is the leading method among women 35 and older.

• Nearly all women of reproductive age have used contraception: 98 percent of all women who had ever had intercourse had used at least one contraceptive method. About 82 percent of women have used the oral contraceptive pill at some time in their lives; about 90 percent have had a partner use the male condom.

Source: Use of Contraception and Use of Family Planning Services in the United States- 1982-2002
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad350.pdf

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Deaths

• Congenital malformations, although ranked first for infant mortality overall, ranks second for both neonates and postneonates.

• Disorders related to short gestation and low birthweight not elsewhere classified were the leading cause of neonatal death.

• In contrast, SIDS was the leading cause of death during the postneonatal period.

Source: QuickStats: Leading Causes of Neonatal and Postneonatal Deaths- United States, 2002
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5438a8.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Diethylstilbestrol (DES)

• In the United States, an estimated five to 10 million people were exposed to DES between 1938 and 1971.

• Women who were prescribed DES while pregnant are at a modestly increased risk for breast cancer.

• Women exposed to DES in the womb-DES Daughters-experience lifelong, increased risks that include a rare vaginal and cervical cancer, reproductive complications, and infertility. Men exposed to DES-DES Sons-face an increased risk for noncancerous epididymal cysts (growths on the testicles).

Source: Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Update
http://www.cdc.gov/DES

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Group B Strep

• According to the Active Bacterial Core surveillance system from 1996-2004, the incidence of Group B Strep (GBS) disease in infants aged 0-6 days (i.e., early-onset disease) in 2004 had decreased by 31% from 2000-2001, the period immediately before universal screening was implemented.

• Incidence of GBS disease in infants aged 7-89 days (i.e., late-onset disease) remained unchanged during the 9-year period reviewed.

• Continued monitoring is needed to assess the impact of the 2002 guidelines on early-onset disease and the long-term effect of widespread intrapartum use of antimicrobial agents on neonatal GBS disease.

Source: Early-Onset and Late-Onset Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Disease- United States, 1996-2004
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5447a2.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

• Nearly one-half of postmenopausal U.S. women have used different forms of HRT at some time.

• Over one-third of HRT pill users have been on the therapy for more than 10 years.

• HRT use is not evenly distributed among subgroups, with the use of HRT being associated with menopausal type, race/ ethnicity, education, and family income.

Source: Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Among Postmenopausal Women in the United States, 1988-1994
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/databriefs/hrtinwomen.pdf

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Hysterectomy

• From 1994 through 1999, an estimated 3,525,237 hysterectomies were performed among U.S. women aged >15 years, and the overall hysterectomy rate for U.S. female, civilian residents was 5.5 per 1,000 women.

• Although statistically significant increases for hysterectomy rates were observed from 1994 (5.1/1,000) through 1998 (5.8/1,000), the increase was limited and the curve remained nearly flat.

• Women aged 40–44 years had a significantly higher hysterectomy rate compared with any other age group.

• During the study period, 52% of all hysterectomies were performed among women aged <44 years.

• Uterine leiomyoma, endometriosis, and uterine prolapse were the most frequent diagnoses for women aged >15 years.

• Hysterectomy is the second most frequently performed surgical procedure, after cesarean section, for women of reproductive age in the United States.

• Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the United States.

• Approximately 20 million U.S. women have had a hysterectomy.

Source: Hysterectomy Surveillance — United States, 1994–1999
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5105a1.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Oral Health

• Overall, 70% of pregnant women in 1999 and 2002 had received dental care in the previous 12 months.

Source: Dental Care Use among Pregnant Women in the United States Reported in 1999 and 2002
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/jan/04_0069.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs and HIV/AIDS)

• An estimated 6,000 to 7,000 HIV-infected women give birth each year in the United States, resulting in 280 to 370 new perinatal infections.

• Approximately 40% of mothers whose infants are perinatally infected have no documentation of HIV status, despite recommendations that all pregnant women be tested for HIV prenatally.

• About 40% of women of childbearing age are unaware that treatment is available to prevent perinatal transmission.

Source: Quick Facts: Perinatal HIV/AIDS Prevention, April 2003-March 2005
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/prev_prog/AHP/resources/factsheets/QF_Perinatal.htm

• Women who are pregnant can become infected with the same sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as women who are not pregnant.

• The estimated number of pregnant women in the United States who are infected with specific STDs each year:

STD	Estimated Number of Pregnant Women
Bacterial vaginosis	800,000
Herpes simplex	800,000
Chlamydia	200,000
Trichomoniasis	80,000
Gonorrhea	40,000
Hepatitis B	40,000
HIV	8,000
Syphilis	8,000

Source: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Pregnancy
http://www.cdc.gov/std/STDFact-STDs&Pregnancy.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Smoking and Tobacco

• The evidence is sufficient to infer a causal relationship between: smoking and reduced fertility in women; maternal active smoking and premature rupture of the membranes, placenta previa, and placental abruption; maternal active smoking and a reduced risk for preeclampsia; maternal active smoking and preterm delivery and shortened gestation; maternal active smoking and fetal growth restriction and low birth weight; and sudden infant death syndrome and maternal smoking during and after pregnancy.

Source: The Health Consequences of Smoking: 2004 Report of the Surgeon General
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/sgr_2004/

• According to analyses of state-specific trends in maternal smoking during 1990-2002, whereas participating areas observed a significant decline in maternal smoking during the surveillance period, 10 states reported recent increases in smoking by pregnant teens.

• In 2002, smoking during pregnancy was reported by 11.4% of all women giving birth in the United States, a decrease of 38% from 1990, when 18.4% reported smoking.

Source: Smoking during Pregnancy- United States, 1990-2002
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5339a1.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: Statistics (General) - includes multiple topics, behavioral risks, trends, and/or summary statistics

• According to preliminary data, the cesarean delivery rate rose 6 percent in 2004 to 29.1 percent of all births, the highest rate ever reported in the United States.

• No improvement in timely receipt of prenatal care was seen in 2004.

• Tobacco use during pregnancy declined slightly in 2004.

• More than a half million infants were born preterm in 2004, the highest number reported since comparable national data on gestational age have been available.

Source: Preliminary Births for 2004: Infant and Maternal Health
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/ prelimbirths04/prelimbirths04health.htm

• The risk of giving birth to a very low birthweight infant is higher for both younger and older mothers.

• Much of the added risk among older women is attributable to higher multiple birth rates.

• On average, infants born in multiple births are smaller than infants born in single births.

Source: QuickStats: Rate of Very Low Birthweight, by Age of Mother and Multiple-Birth Status- United States, 2003
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5447a9.htm

• The average age of mothers at first birth increased steadily during the preceding 30 years, to 25.1 years in 2002, an all-time high for the nation.

• In 2002, by state, the average age of mothers at first birth ranged from 23 years to 28 years.

• Mothers living in northeastern states were the oldest at first birth; mothers living in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Wyoming were the youngest.

Source: QuickStats: Average Age of Mothers at First Birth, by State- United States, 2002
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5419a5.htm

• In 2002, Non-Hispanic blacks had substantially more years of potential life lost than non-Hispanic whites for perinatal diseases (three times as many).

Source: Health Disparities Experienced by Black or African Americans- United States
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5401a1.htm

• In 2000, an estimated 6,401,000 pregnancies resulted in 4.06 million live births, 1.31 million induced abortions, and 1.03 million fetal losses.

• The 2000 pregnancy rate of 104.0 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years is 10 percent lower than the 1990 peak of 115.6.

Source: Estimated Pregnancy Rates for the United States, 1990–2000: An Update
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr52/nvsr52_23.pdf

• In 1999, an estimated 6.23 million pregnancies resulted in 3.96 million live births, 1.31 million induced abortions, and 1.0 million fetal losses.

• The pregnancy rate in 1999 was 102.1 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years.

• The teenage pregnancy rate dropped steadily through the 1990s, reaching a record low of 86.7 per 1,000 aged 15–19 years in 1999, 25 percent lower than the 1990 peak (116.3).

Source: Revised Pregnancy Rates, 1990-97, and New Rates for 1998-99, United States
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr52/nvsr52_07.pdf

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This page last reviewed April 10, 2006
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/women/natstat/reprhlth.htm

US Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office of Women's Health