Birth rates decline nationwide, down slightly in Merced County

The nation’s birth rate has declined for the sixth consecutive year, according to a federal study.

In 2013, women in the U.S. gave birth to 3,932,181 babies, with 62.5 babies born for every 1,000 women ages 15 to 44. The report, released last week by the National Center for Health Statistics, showed last year’s births were down about 1 percent from 2012. Since 2007, the national fertility rate has declined 10 percent.

Locally, the decrease in number of births has been less noticeable. According to the California Department of Public Health, Merced County residents gave birth to 4,161 babies in 2013. That’s only a slight decrease from the 4,311 babies born to county residents in 2012.

Data provided by the Merced County Department of Public Health shows that birth rates in the county have stayed relatively level for the past decade.

Cheryl Assante, a supervising public health nurse for the county, said it’s not rare to see Central Valley counties maintain a somewhat consistent birth rate while the nation’s rate drops. It has to do with the area’s poverty level, she said.

“A lot of families (in the county) are on government aid,” Assante said. “Families are more likely to have children when they receive help and Medi-Cal.”

Assante said families in the area probably spend more time at home and therefore have more time to dedicate to their children.

The federal study revealed that the biggest decline came among women under 30. Birth rates among teens from 2012 to 2013 fell 10 percent, to 26.5 per 1,000 women. Women in their early 20s saw a 3 percent decline, with 80.7 babies born per 1,000 women. About 105.5 babies per 1,000 women were born to women in their late 20s, a 1 percent drop.

Meanwhile, birth rates for women 30 and older rose in 2013. For every 1,000 women ages 30 to 34, there were 98 births – a 1 percent increase from 2012. The birth rate for women in their late 30s increased by 2 percent, to 49.3 births per 1,000.

The rate for women 40 to 44 remained unchanged at 10.4 percent. According to the report, childbearing among women over 30 has risen over the last three decades.

The study also noted that the cesarean delivery rate declined in 2013 by less than 1 percent to 32.7 percent of all U.S. births. The cesarean delivery rate reached its peak in 2009 at 32.9 percent.

The twin birth rate, which had been mostly flat from 2009 to 2012, rose 2 percent, to 33.7 per 1,000 births.

The study was based on information obtained from birth certificates entered into the National Vital Statistics System.

This story was originally published December 10, 2014 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Birth rates decline nationwide, down slightly in Merced County."