Reporting
an unprecedented decline in AIDS deaths, as well as a new low for infant
mortality and continued declines in teen births and the homicide rate, HHS
Secretary Donna E. Shalala today released preliminary vital statistics for
the
Nation in 1997.
Age-adjusted death rates from HIV infection in the U.S. declined an
unprecedented 47 percent from 1996 to 1997, and HIV infection fell from
8th to 14th among leading causes of death in the U.S. over the same time.
For those aged 25-44, HIV dropped from the leading cause of death in 1995
to third-leading in 1996 and now fifth-leading in 1997. The age-adjusted
HIV death rate of 5.9 deaths per 100,000 is the lowest rate since 1987,
the first year mortality data were
available for the disease. The 1997 rate is less than half the 1992 rate
(12.6) and almost one-third the rate in 1995 (15.6).
The overall infant mortality rate reached a new low of 7.1 deaths per
1,000 live births. The teen birth rate also fell an estimated 3 percent in
1997, continuing a 6-year trend. And the preliminary age-adjusted homicide
rate fell 12 percent in 1997.
In addition, life expectancy reached a record high of 76.5 years for those
born in 1997.
The data come from a new report, "Births and Deaths: United States,
1997," prepared by the National Center for Health Statistics, a part
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report
features preliminary data collected through the National Vital Statistics
System from over 90 percent of all birth and death records. The
information on causes of death is recorded on death certificates by
physicians, medical examiners, and coroners, and reported to the states.
Shalala said the decline in AIDS deaths is primarily due to the continuing
impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy in helping people with HIV
live longer and healthier lives. At the same time, she emphasized that
success in treating those with HIV does not mean the Nation can relax its
efforts to prevent HIV transmission.
"Today’s report is very good news for the Nation, and the
tremendous decline in AIDS deaths is particularly striking. These figures
mean that new treatments have been very effective in extending the lives
of people who already have HIV
infection -- but they do not mean that we have significantly reduced HIV
transmission," Shalala said. "We are working to see that people
with AIDS get access to the dramatic new therapies that are available.
Even more important, however, is our continuing task of preventing new
cases of HIV. Our ultimate goal is to prevent the estimated 40,000 new HIV
infections that occur each year." According to CDC, other available
data suggests that, while death rates are improving dramatically, the
annual number of new HIV infections in the U.S. have not declined in
recent years, and the total number of people living with HIV is still
increasing.
From 1991-97, birth rates to non-Hispanic white teens and black teens have
dropped steeply: 16 percent and 23 percent respectively.
"Reducing teen pregnancy and teen birth rates is a major national
goal of ours, so this trend is very encouraging," said Shalala.
"It is the result of a lot of very hard work at the Federal, State,
and grass roots level. But we can’t afford to stop our efforts now --
too many teenagers are still jeopardizing their futures."
Timely prenatal care also reached record levels in 1997 as an estimated
82.5 percent of women received care in their first trimester of pregnancy.
Meanwhile, the birth rate among first-time mothers dropped to a record low
in 1997.
The new report also includes other, less positive findings, including:
Little
or no change in the number and percent of births to unmarried women in
1997.
A
slight increase in the percent of cesarean deliveries, up to 20.8 percent
of all deliveries, suggesting a leveling off of the downward trend of
recent years.
An
increase in the percent of low birthweight babies (less than 2,500 grams).
Low birthweight babies account for 7.5 percent of all births, compared to
7.4 percent in 1996. This increase was confined to non-Hispanic white and
Hispanic
women. Low birthweight remained unchanged for births to black women.