| October 17, 2006 |
Contact:
HRSA Press Office
301-443-3376 |
Rates of Prenatal Care and Breastfeeding Rising in
U.S., HRSA Report Says
A recently published HRSA report indicates that prenatal care and breastfeeding
rates are improving, but that low birth weight rates are increasing
and the U.S. infant mortality rate remains high compared to other developed
nations.
Key findings from Child Health USA 2005, the 16th annual assessment
of the health status and service needs of America's children, include:
- The rate of first-trimester prenatal care has been increasing steadily
since the early 1990s. The proportion of non-Hispanic black, Hispanic
and American Indian women receiving early prenatal care has increased
by 20 percent or more since 1990, and 84.1 percent of pregnant women
received early prenatal care in 2003. Non-Hispanic white women had
the highest rates of prenatal care at 89.0 percent, followed by Asian-Pacific
Islander women at 85.4 percent, Hispanic women at 77.5 percent, non-Hispanic
black women at 75.9 percent, and American Indian women at 70.8 percent.
- Breastfeeding, which enhances the health of mothers and infants,
has been steadily on the rise since the beginning of the 1990s. In
2003, 70.9 percent of mothers started breastfeeding when their babies
were born, the highest rate yet recorded. While 36.2 percent of mothers
were still breastfeeding their infants at 6 months, only 14.2 percent
were breastfeeding their 6-month-olds without any other form of nourishment.
Many government and international initiatives promote breastfeeding
as the best way to feed a baby.
- A 2002-03 CDC survey shows that 80.5 percent of children ages 19
to 35 months received the recommended series of vaccines. As a result
of increased immunization, the number of reported cases of vaccine-preventable
diseases continues to decrease. In 2003, there were no reported cases
of diphtheria, tetanus, rubella or polio among children under 5 years
of age, and very few cases of hepatitis B, measles and mumps. HHS’
Healthy People 2010 objective is to immunize at least 90 percent of
children in this age group.
- Despite improved rates of prenatal care, the rate of low-birth-weight
births (less than 2,500 grams or 5 pounds, 8 ounces) is currently
at the highest level in the past three decades. In 2003, 7.9 percent
of all births were considered low birth weight, rising steadily from
a low of 6.7 percent in 1984. Very low birth weight (less than 1,500
grams or 3 pounds 4 ounces) is also increasing, representing 1.4 percent
of all live births in 2003, compared to approximately 1 percent in
1980. Low birth weight babies are significantly more likely to die
in the first year of life than babies of normal birth weight, and
those who survive are at risk for severe physical, developmental and
cognitive problems.
- Although rates of maternal and infant mortality have dropped in
the past century, the U.S. still has one of the higher rates of infant
death in the industrialized world. Seven out of every 1,000 babies
born alive in 2003 died in their first year, according to the report.
Child Health USA 2005 provides the most current information
available for public health professionals, policy makers and others
on more than 50 health and health care indicators. Data are drawn mainly
from 2003-04 surveys and reports supported by federal agencies and non-profit
organizations, and are depicted in easy-to-use bar graphs and pie charts,
with trend analyses, when applicable.
The current edition of Child Health USA 2005 and previous editions
are available online at http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov/mchirc/chusa_05/index.htm.
Copies can be ordered on the HRSA Information Center Web site www.ask.hrsa.gov
or by calling 1-888-ASK-HRSA.
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