U.S. Birthrates Continued to Fall in 1993, Including Rates Among Adolescents

Abstract

The more than 4 million births in 1993 in the US were 2% lower than the number of births for 1992. This decrease in fertility continues the downward trend in overall fertility since 1990. Between 1992 and 1993 the birth rate fell from 15.9 to 15.5 live births/1000 population a 3% decrease. In fact the 1993 birth rate was the lowest since 1978. The 1993 birth rate for adolescents (i.e. 15-19 year olds) was 2% lower than the 1992 birth rate (59.6 and 60.7 births/1000 adolescents respectively). Births to women in their 20s made up 54% of all 1993 births. Even though this age group had the highest birth rate (113-116/1000 women in their 20s) its birth rate decreased 2% in 1993. Women in their 20s made up 54% of all births in 1993. The birth rate of women in their early 30s increased but only by 1% compared to an annual increase of 4% between 1975 and 1990. The number of births to women in their 40s and the birth rate of women aged 40-44 increased in 1993 (3% increase for birth rate). Since 1980 their fertility increased 56%. The fertility rate for all White women fell by 2% but it increased by 2% among single White women. Among single and married Black women however it decreased by 3% and 4% respectively. In 1993 the birth rate among single Black women was 2.3 times that of single White women compared to 4.5 times in 1980. In 1993 nonmarital births made up 24% of all births to White women 69% of births to Black mothers and 40% of births to Hispanic mothers. Hispanic women continued to have a higher birth rate than either Black or non-Hispanic White women. The Hispanic birth rate was highest among Mexicans and lowest among Cubans (115 vs. 56/1000). The number of births to unmarried women increased by 1% while the fertility rate among them remained stable in 1993. Smoking during pregnancy decreased for the fourth year in a row. Prenatal care use increased and initiated earlier in 1993 than 1992. Nevertheless infant health deteriorated. For example preterm births increased by 3% and the low birth weight rate increased in 1993.