Vital and

Health Statistics

Trends and Variations in

First Births to Older

Women, 1970-86

Series 21

Data From the

National Vital Statistics System

No, 47

Trends and variations in first-time childbearing by women in their thirties

and older are presented for the years 1970-86, The report focuses on the

decline in childbearing by women in their twenties, particularly welleducated women, and the extent to which these women have delayed

motherhood, Maternal and infant health characteristics are also

discussed, The information presented is drawn from the live birth

certificates of all States and the District of Columbia,

US. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service

Centers for Disease Control

National Center for Health Statistics

Hyattsville, Md.

June 1989

DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 89-1925
Copyright information

All material appearing in this report IS In the public domatn and may

be reproduced or copied without permkxlon; cltat!on as to source,

however, la appreciated,

Suggested citation

Ventura SJ. Trends and vartatlons In first births to older women,

1970–86. National Center for Health Stat@tcs. Vital Health Stat

21(47), 1989,

Library of Congress Cataloging-in- Publication Data

Ventura, Stephanie J.

Trends and variations in first births to older women, 1970–86.

p. cm, — (Vital & health statlsttcs. Series 21, Data from

the National Vital Statistics System ; no. 47) (DHHS publlcat!on ;

no. (PHS) 89–1925)

Btbllography p.

Supt. of Dots. no.: HE 20.6209:21/47

ISBN 0-8406–041 5-7

1. Childbirth !n middle age— United States— Statlsttcs.

2. Ch(ldren, First born—United States— Statwtlcs. 1. National

Center for Health Statlstlcs(U, S.) Il. Title. Ill. Series.

IV. Series: Vital and health statistics Series 21, Data from the

national vital atatlst~cs system ; no. 47.

[DNLM: 1. Birth intervals-Unlted States-statistics.2. Maternal

Age—United States—statistics. W2 A N148vu no. 47]

HA211’.A3 no.47

[HB915]

304.6’3’0973021 s—dc20

[304.6’3’0880844]

DNLM/DLC

for Library of Congress 89-600032

CIP
National Center for Health Statistics

Manning Feinleib, M.D., Dr.P.H., Director

Robert A. Israel, Deputy Director

Jacob J. Feldman, Ph.D., Associate Director for Analysis

cmd Epidemiology

Gail F. Fisher, Ph.D., Associate Director for Planning and

Extnmwwl Programs

Peter L. Hurley, Associate Director for Wtal and Hea/th

Statistics Systems

Stephen E. Nieberding, Associate Director for Management

Charles J. Rothwell, Associate Director for Data Processing

md Semites

Monroe G. Sirken, Ph.D., Associate Director for Research

and Methodology

Division of Vital Statistics

John E. Patterson, Director

James A. Weed, Ph. D., Deputy Director

Robert L. Heuser, M.A., Chiej NatoIity, Maniage and

Dit~orceStatistics Branch

Joseph D. Farrell, Chief Systems and Programming

Branch

Mabel G. Smith, Chie$ Statistical Resources Branch
Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Demographic patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Female population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Childlessness, first-birth rates, and probabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Educational attainment of mother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nonmarital childbearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maternal and infant health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Low birth weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Prenatal care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

List of detailed tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Appendix

Technical notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sources of data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Birth probabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Educational attainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marital status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Racial classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

List of text figures

1. Rates and probabilities of first births to white women 25–39 years of agti United States, 1970-86 . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. Percent of white women who are childless at exact ages 25,30,35, and 40 years United States, Janumy 1,1970-

January 1, 1987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. Rates and probabilities of first births to women of all other races 25-39 years of agw United States, 1970-86..

4. Percent of women of all other races who are childless at exact ages 25, 30, 35, and 40 years: United States,

January 1, 1970-January 1,1987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. Percent of women unmarried at ages 25–29 years and 30-34 years, by ractx United States, 1970-86 . . . . . . . . . .

1

6

6

6

8

9

10

10

10

12

13

26

26

26

26

26

27

2

3

4

5

6

,..

Ill
Symbols

--- Data not available

. . . Category not applicable

Quantity zero

0.0 Quantity more than zero but less than

0.05

z Quantity more than zero but less than

500 where numbers are rounded to

thousands

* Figure does not meet standards of

reliability or precision (see Technical

notes)
Trends and Variations in

First Births to Older

Women, United States,

1970-86

by Stephanie J. Ventura, A. M., Division of

Vital Statistics

Introduction

First births to women in their thirties have increased

substantially since 1970, doubling, tripling, and quadrupling

their levels in a 16-year period. Throughout the 1970’s, the

increases were largest for women aged 30-34 years (NCHS,

1982). Since 1980, the impact of this phenomenon has

shifted to older women. Between 1980 and 1986, the

increases in first births and first-birth rates were much

greater for women aged 35-39 years.

The number of first births to women aged 30–34 years

rose from 42,404 in 1970 to 112,964 in 1980 and then to

181,504 in 1986. Increases in births to women aged 35–39

years were also substantial, although the numbers are

considerably smaller: 11,704 in 1970, 18,241 in 1980, and

44,427 in 1986 (table 1).

The first-birth rate for women aged 30-34 years increased from 7.3 births per 1,000 women in 1970 to 12.8 in

1980 and to 17.5 in 1986, an overall rise of 140 percent. The

rate for women aged 35–39 years rose from 2.1 in 1970 to

2.6 in 1980 and to 4.7 in 1986, an increase of 124 percent

(table 2).

During this period of rapidly rising first-birth rates for

women in their thirties, rates for women in their teens and

early twenties were declining.

The first-birth rate for women 15–19 years of age fell

23 percent, from 53.7 per 1,000 in 1970 to 41.4 in 1976,

with the decline proceeding at a much slower pace during

the rest of the 1970’s and early 19S0’s; the rate for 19S6 was

39.1 (table 2). Similarly for women in their early twenties,

the first-birth rate dropped rapidly through the mid-1970’s,

from 78.2 in 1970 to 52.9 in 1976, a decline of 32 percent;

since 1976, the rate has fluctuated between 52.4 and 57.3.

The trend in the first-birth rate for women aged 25-29

years has followed a middle course between their younger

and older counterparts. The rate fell 6 percent from 1970 to

1972, then increased 33 percent during the years 1972–S1,

from 29.2 to 3S.S. The rate has changed very little since

19S1; in 19S6 it was 3S.S.

The first-birth rate for women in their early forties has

been very low throughout this period and was relatively

unchanged until 19S0. From 19S0 to 19S6 the rate increased from 0.3 to 0.6 first births per 1,000 women in this

age group. As a consequence of these varying shifts in

first-birth rates by age of mother, women aged 30 years and

older are accounting for a much larger share of first births

in the mid-1980’s than in 1970: 15 percent in 1986 compared with 4 percent in 1970 (table 3).

The increases during the early 1970’s in first-time

childbearing by women in their thirties occurred at the

same time that there were steep reductions in higher order

birth rates or, to put it another way, a decline in large

families. In the 5 years from 1970 to 1975, rates for fourth

and higher order births for women aged 30 years and older

fell by about one-half. As a consequence of these declines

and the slowly increasing first-birth rates, the overalI birth

rate for these women dropped during the early 1970’s, from

73.3 to 52.3 for ages 30-34 years and from 31.7 to 19.5 for

ages 35–39 years (table 4).

The reversal of these declines beginning in the mid1970’s is associated entirely with the sizable increases in

first-birth rates, while higher order rates continued to

decline but at a slower pace. Higher order births comprised

a much smaller proportion of all births to women aged

25–39 years in 19S6 than in 1970 (table 5).

Clearly large numbers of women have reached age

30 years and older without having had their first child. For

example, one-fourth of all women aged 30–34 years at the

end of 19S6 were still childless. However, national data

from the June 19S7 Current Population Survey indicate

that only 10 percent of women in their early thirties expect

to remain childless (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 19SSa).

The question that remains is to what extent those women

who intend to have children will actually have the children

they expect to bear. Related data from the National Survey

of Family Growth conducted by the National Center for

Health Statistics (NCHS) indicates that many of these

women may ultimately remain childless because of physiological impairments in their ability to conceive and bear

children (Mosher and Bachrach, 1982). These impairments

tend to rise sharply with age. Until those women now in

their thirties have reached the postchildbearing ages, it will

not be possible to say how much of today’s delayed childbearing will be made up.

Trends in first-time childbearing by age have been

affected by changes in the female population of childbearing age and by changes in the various measures of fertility,

including first-birth rates and birth probabilities (first-birth

1
rates computed for childless women) by age and the proportion of childless women (women at risk of having a first

birth). ‘1’hese factors will be described and discussed in

detail in the text and the accompanying figures and tables.

Because the factors associated with these trends differ by

race, the discussion in the following sections will consider

each group separately, Where available, data are given for

white and black women rather than white and all other

women. However, the birth probabilities and the proporThis report also describes the impact of trends in the

educational attainment of the mother and in nonmarital

childbearing on postponed childbearing. Some of the interest associated with delayed first births has focused on the

possible deleterious health consequences for mother and

child. Selected data (on low birth weight and prenatal care)

relating to these concerns are also presented. These data

indicate that the higher educational attainment of older,

first-time mothers is probably the key factor offsetting these

tions childless shown in figu;es 14 are available only for health risks. - -

white and all other women.

50 r 500

25-29 years

40 400

30 300

20 200

30-34 years

+

-<

\

70 100

9

------ --- 90 --m8

80

7

70

__ -l---- --

6 ~+ *-00- 60

*- --=9- -e5

--d~

60

4 40

3 30

2

20 __d 99-#

Rate

— - Probability

1

I I I 1“ I ! ! I I I I I f 1 I A 10

1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986

Yea!

Figure 1. Rates and probabilities of first births to white women 25-39 years of age United States, 1970-86

2
60

50

-40.

30

20

10

6

!5

4

3

2

1

25 years

.

.

.

.

1970 1972 1974 1976 1976 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988

Year

Figure2, Percent ofwtite women whoarecMldless atexact agas25,3O,35, and40 years United States, Januaryl, 1970-.lanuaryl,

1987

3
40

30

20

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

L0

25-29 years .- ”--- #----

----

/“

/

/

30-34 years

.

/4

/

/

.

/ /

-z---

/

35-39 years

/--/

-- ‘35_39 year,

.-~-+

Rate

- - Probability

i- 1 I 1 I I I 1 I I I I I I I I

1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986

Year

Figure 3. Rates and probabilities of first births to women of all other races, 25-39 years of age: United States, 1970-86

4
40

30

20 1-

I

==9,. -

●0.

-9a~-- --

●**

●** --

30 years -4+

●*6

/

*- =*-.=.- ‘h.

*---.H

~~. \ _- e-- *** -wm~* ..-~m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..*

-.

,**.

●. . ...=....- -+

. . . 40 years

-.**

10 \* ●.*

9

0,+

\* “**

8

\;

●**

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●+4

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6

35 yews - ●6

‘% *

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3

2

1

I

I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I J

1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1986

Year

Fiaure 4. Percent of women of all other races who are childless at exact ages 25, 30.35. and 40 years: United States, Januav 1, 1970-

J;nuary 1, 1987

5
Demographic patterns

Female population

A growing proportion of women in their late twenties

and early thirties is unmarried (figure 5); many have never

married, and a growing fraction is unmarried as a consequence of divorce. In 1986,for example, nearly one-third of

25–29-year-old white women and more than one-half of

women of all other races were unmarried, more than

double the proportions observed in the early 1960’s.

The dramatic increases in the proportions of women

who had had no children by ages 25, 30, or even 35 years is

described in the next section. In addition to these increases,

there has been a rapid rise in the number of women in

these age groups (table 6). Between 1970 and 1986 the

number of women aged 30-34 years increased 78 percent;

the increases for women aged 25–29 and 35–39 years were

60 and 66 percent, respectively. In contrast, the number of

women in their early twenties increased by only 20 percent,

and the number of teenagers actually declined by 3 percent.

These changes reflect the dramatic changes in fertility

observed between 1946 and 1972. The large number of

female babies born immediately after World War II

through the late 1950’s are now women aged 25–39 years.

From the early 1960’s until the early 1970’s, there was a

sharp drop in fertility, reflected during recent years in a

reduction in the number of women aged 15-19 years and

20-24 years.

Beginning in the mid-1970’s there was a convergence of

the rapidly increasing number of women in their thirties

together with an even more sharply increasing rate of

childlessness among these women. These two factors combined to produce the largest number of women ever “at

risk” of having their first child. Virtually all national surveys

of birth expectations among American women have shown

that very few women intend or wish to be permanently

childless. Therefore, it was perhaps inevitable that the

effect of these simultaneous trends would be to increase

first-birth rates among women in their thirties (Mosher and

Bachrach, 1982; U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1988a). This is,

in fact, what happened.

Childlessness, first-birth rates, and

probabilities

Figures 1 and 3 show the trends in first-birth rates and

probabilities of first births among women in the age groups

60

r

— White 25-29 years

50

~.=--w.

30-34 y’eara

40 -----

25-29 yeara

30 ----

.

// 30-34 years

-~

.+~

/-N/~

20

10

1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986

Yaar

Figure 5. Percent of women unmarried at agea 25–29 yeara and 30-34 years, by race: United Statea, 1970-86

6
25-39 years. The first-birth rate relates the number of first

births to all women in an age-race group regardless of their

parity (the number of children they have had). The firstbirth probability is a refinement of the first-birth rate in

that it relates first births only to childless women (also

referred to as zero-parity women), that is, the women “at

risk” of having a first birth.

Birth rates rose fairly evenly for white women in the

age groups 25-39 years from 1973 to 1980, although the

pace of the increase was clearly greatest for women aged

30-34 years (figure 1). Since 19S0, rates have completely

leveled off for women aged 25–29 years, while rates for

women in their thirties have continued to increase. In the

case of women aged 35–39 years, the increase in recent

years has outpaced that measured in the late 1970’s.

The incidence of childlessness among white women at

various ages has also increased sharply since 1970 (figure

2). Among 25-year-old women the proportion childless

reached a record high 55 percent by the end of 1986,

compared with 35 percent in 1970. Similarly, the proportion

childless among white women aged 30 years rose to

33 percent by the end of 1986 compared with 14 percent in

1970, and for 35-year-old white women, 22 percent at the

end of 1986 compared with 9 percent in 1970. In sum, an

unusually high proportion of women were “eligible” or “at

risk” of having a first baby.

The first-birth probability for 25–29-year-old white

women, on the other hand, declined slowly but fairly

steadily from 1975 to 1986 after an initial rapid decline in

the early 1970’s. Thus since 1980 the first-birth rate for

women in their late twenties leveled off because of a

decline in the birth probability (for childless women) and

because the proportion of women with no children was

relatively stable.

First-birth probabilities for white women aged 30-34

and 35-39 years have increased in recent years, following

declines in the early 1970’s. Since 1980 the increase for

women aged 35–39 years has been particularly sizabl~ for

those aged 30-34 years it has been more modest. The

increases in first-birth rates for white women in their

thirties are the result of the combined effect of increased

proportions of childless women and the increases in firstbirth probabilities.

The rate for 30-34-year-old women increased at a

slightly slower pace because the probability of a first birth

for these women increased less. This indicates a gradual but

clear shift to older ages in the making up of some postponed or delayed first births. Whereas in the 1970’s the

first-birth rates were increasing most for women in their

early thirties and increasing even for women in their late

twenties, since 1980 the rates have leveled off for women

aged 25–29 years and have continued to increase for

women in their thirties, at a slower rate for women aged

30-34 years and more rapidly for women aged 35-39 years.

As already pointed out, the question that cannot be answered for at least another decade is the extent to which

these women will actually make up the births that they have

delayed.

The number of first births to white women in their

thirties has risen substantially during these years because of

the rapid increases in first-birth rates and in the numbers of

women in these age groups. The number of white women

aged 30-34 years increased 71 percent from 5,085,000 in

1970 to 8,702,000 in 1986; the number aged 35-39 years

rose by 63 percent, from 4,933,000 in 1970 to 8,031,000 in

1986 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1982, 1988b). For white

women aged 30-34 years, the increase in the number of

first births in the 1970’s was much greater than in more

recent years, but overall there were more than four times as

many births to these women in 1986 as in 1970 (155,261

compared with 36,902). For women in their late thirties, the

increase has been greater in the 1980’s than in the previous

decade; overall, the number born in 1986 was more than

three times the number in 1970 (37,450 compared with

10,078) (table 1).

In summary, the number of first births to white women

in their thirties has increased since the early 1970’s because

of increases in three measure~ The proportion of women at

risk of having a first birth (the proportion childless), the

probability of a first birth among these women, and the

number of women in these age groups. The increases in the

numbers of first births to women in their thirties and older

have occurred during a period of relatively little increase in

first births to mothers of all ages combined. Mothers aged

30 years and older now account for a much larger proportion of all first births than in any recent year (15 percent in

1986 compared with 4 percent in 1970) (table 3).

Trends in delayed childbearing among mothers of “all

other” races have been affected by the changing racial

composition of this population since 1970. While black

women still comprise the overwhelming majority of this

population (nearly 80 percent), the proportion of black

women has declined during this period from 89 percent in

1970 to 79 percent in 1986 (U.S. Bureau of the Census,

1982, 1988b). The remaining 10-20 percent of the population of all other races is American Indian and Asian. In the

period covered by the study, the Asian population in particular has increased sharply. Because the fertility patterns of

black and American Indian women differ markedly from

those of most Asian women, the factors affecting the trends

for “all other” women as a group are often offsetting.

Teenage childbearing is relatively common for black

and American Indian women compared with Asian women;

among babies born in 19S6, 23 percent of black infants and

19 percent of American Indian infants were born to teenage

mothers compared with only 6 percent of Asian infants. In

contrast, only 19 percent of black and American Indian

births were to mothers aged 30 years and older compared

with 41 percent of Asian births. Furthermore, very few first

births to Asian mothers were born to teenagers, only

10 percent in 1986 compared with 41-42 percent of American Indian and black births. In contrast, 27 percent of all

Asian first births and 39-41 percent of Chinese and Japanese first births were to mothers aged 30 years and older,

much higher levels of childbearing by older mothers than

observed for any other racial group. Only 6-8 percent of

7
American Indian and black first-time mothers were aged

30 years and older. In other words, a much larger proportion of black and American Indian mothers are beginning

childbearing at young ages, whereas Asian mothers are

much more likely to be delaying their first births. Clearly,

mothers of “all other” races are not homogeneous in their

childbearing characteristics.

The trends in first-birth rates, probabilities, and proportions childless can be briefly summarized for all other

women as a group. First-birth rates for all other women

aged 25–39 years have increased fairly steadily beginning in

the early 1970’s (figure 3, table 2). Since 1980, the rates for

women aged 25–29 and 30-34 years have increased at a

slower pace, while the rate for women aged 35–39 years has

risen more rapidly. The first-birth probabilities also increased during the 1970’s. However, since 1980 the probability for women aged 25–29 years has declined; for women

aged 30-34 years, it has continued to rise but more slowly;

for 35-39-year-old women, it has risen more steeply.

As shown in figure 4, the proportions of childless

women of all other races declined steeply for women aged

35 years and 40 years over most of the period 1970-86

while increasing for 25-year-old women; for 30-year-old

women the proportion childless declined until the late

1970’s and has risen since 1979. In 1987 only 6 percent of

35-year-old women and 5 percent of 40-year-old women

were childless, compared with 35 percent of 25-year-old

women and 14 percent of 30-year-old women. First-birth

rates for all other women aged 30 years and older, especially those 35–39 years, have risen because the probabilities for those women at risk of a first birth have increased

and the number of women in these age groups has grown.

These increases have been large enough to compensate for

the sharp reduction in the proportion of childless women.

The drop in childlessness among older women of all other

races reflects the high proportion of black and American

Indian women who began having children at relatively

young ages (and are therefore not childless) combined wi(h

the apparently high rate of first-time childbearing by Asian

mothers in their thirties. In 1986 the first-birth rate for

women of all other races excluding black women was 30.4

for women aged 30-34 years and 9.5 for women aged 35-39

years. Both rates were nearly three times the comparable

rates for black women (11.2 and 3.5, respectively) and

nearly two times the rates for white women in the same age

groups (18.0 and 4.9).

Educational attainment of mother

The educational attainment of women aged 25-39

years who were having their first child rose sharply during

the 1970’s. The proportion of these mothers who had

completed some college (that is, 13–15 years of educational

attainment) rose as did the proportion who were collcgc

graduates. Since 1980, the proportion wi[h at least 1 year of

cokge has continued to rise, but the proportion with

college degrees has increased only for first-time mothers

aged 35–39 years, from 44 percent in 1980 to 53 percent in

1986 (table 7).

The educational attainment of the U.S. population m a

whole has also increased during this period. However, the

level among first-time mothers has continued to exceed that

of the general population. Among all women aged 30–34

years, for example, the proportion with college degrees

increased from 16 percent in 1975 to 24 percent in 1986

(U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1976, 1977, 1988c:). Among

women of the same age who gave birth to their first child

during those years, this proportion increased from 40 percent to 48 percent. Similarly, among all women aged 35–39

years, the proportion with college degrees increased from

12 to 23 percent in this period, while the comparable

proportion among first-time mothers rose from 32 to 53

percent.

Some of the rise in educational attainment among

first-time mothers can clearly be associated with the general increase in educational attainment of the population

during this period. But the far higher level of college

completion among the first-time mothers probably reflects

the particular characteristics of those postponing motherhood as well as a greater increase in first-birth rates among

these women than among their lesser educated counterparts. First-birth rates by age and educational attainment of

mother are shown in table 8 for 1970, 1975, 1980, and 1985,

years for which the necessary population data were available. These rates indicate that the decline among 20-24 -

year-old women was especially pronounced among those

who have completed college. There were substantial reductions in first-birth rates during the early 1970’s for all

educational attainment groups, but the only decline that has

persisted since 1975 has been for women who have completed college, suggesting that these women are devoting

themselves to their careers and are continuing to delay

marriage and childbearing.

First-birth rates for 25–29-year-old women increased

between 1975 and 1985 for all except those who had

completed 4 years of college. Among the latter group, the

rate dropped. These women also were evidently postponing

marriage and childbearing.

The pattern of making up of postponed childbearing is

most evident among women in their thirties. First-birth

rates for these women have increased sharply since 1970,

especially since 1975. Among, women who had completed

college, the increases in first-birth rates from 1975 to 1985

were 77 and 96 percent, respectively, for women aged

30–34 and 35–39 years. In summary, women in their thirties giving birth for the first time are increasingly well

educated, and increasing proportions of we]hcducated

women in these age groups are giving birth.

When the first-birth rates by age and educational attainment are examined for white and black womlcn separately, it is apparent that well-educated women in both

groups have postponed chik.lbearing, and that ihey are

making LIp for at least some of the delays at a growing pace

(table 9). The main difference is that the increases for white

8
women in their thirties have been for rdl those with 1 or

more years of college, while the increases among comparably aged black women have been concentrated among

those with 1–3 years of college. Rates for black women with

college degrees have risen less or even declined.

Nonmarital childbearing

Childbearing by unmarried women of all ages has

increased at a rapid rate since the mid-1970’s. Birth rates

for unmarried teenagers have risen steadily and are now

higher than ever; in contrast, rates for older mothers had

declined by as much as 35 percent between 1970 and 1975

and have since returned to about the 1970 levels (table 10).

Rates for first births for unmarried women have increased

even faster than for all births. For example, the first-birth

rate for unmarried women aged 30-34 years rose 47 percent in the period 1980-86, from 4.5 to 6.6 per 1,000

women, while the overall rate for this age group increased

27 percent. The increases for 35-39-year-old unmarried

women had a similar pattern (tables 10 and 11).

The effect of the rising birth rates for unmarried

women has been accentuated by the rapid growth in the

population of unmarried women, as explained earlier. The

number of women in their thirties has increased and the

proportion that is not married has risen as well. As a

consequence the total number of births to unmarried

women in their thirties more than tripled between 1975 and

1986, and the number of first births to these women

increased more than sixfold (table 12). For example, 74,928

babies were born to unmarried women aged 30-34 years in

1986 compared with just 19,800 in 1975. The number of

first births to these unmarried women also increased, horn

3,000 in 1975 to 18,178 in 1986.

The racial differential in the rate of nonmarital childbearing declines with increasing age, but the rate for black

women is more than twice the rate for white women even at

ages 30 years and older, However, if the basis for comparison is restricted to unmarried women having their first

child, the racial differential is reduced. For example, the

racial differential in the overall birth rate for unmarried

women aged 30-34 years in 1986 was 2.7 compared with 1.6

for first-birth rates. Rates for unmarried women in both

racial groups have increased in recent years, but the increases have been much larger for white than for black

women, thereby reducing the racial differential.

It is difficult to account for the rising trend in nonmarital childbearing by relatively older women. Presumably,

many of these women have chosen to become mothers even

though they are single. Data for 1986 on the educational

attainment of mothers according to marital status suggest

that although unmarried mothers are not as well educated

as their married counterparts, still about 30 percent had

completed at least 1 year of college and about 10 percent

were college graduates. The incidence of mistimed or

unwanted births among well-educated women would be

expected to be relatively low. More research is needed to

determine the factors associated with the rising rates of

childbearing by older unmarried women.

9
Maternal and infant health

Low birth weight

The proportion of babies weighing less than 2,500

grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces) at birth is a widely used

measure of birth outcome which in turn is higldy correlated

both with infant morbidity, including congenital anomalies,

and with infant mortality. During the 1970–86 period, the

overall proportion of low-birth-weight babies declined from

7.9 to 6.8 percent. All of this decline occurred between

1970 and 1980; since then there has been no change.

Declines were observed for all age-of-mother groups, but

the greatest reductions (19–21 percent) were for babies

born to mothers in their thirties (table 13). In terms of birtb

weight, the ideal age of the mother has been 25–29 years

during this period, btlt in 1986 births to women aged 30-34

years were only slightly more likely to be of low birth weight

(6.1 compared with 6.0 percent).

When the comparisons are restricted to first births, the

relationship of low birth weight to the age of the mother is

similar, except that first births are at a somewhat higher

risk of low birth weight than births of all birth orders

combined for mothers who are aged 25 years or older. The

decline in percent low birth weight for first births in the

1970-86 period also occurred during the 1970’s. Since

1980, the only notable decline has been for first births to

mothers aged 35–39 years, from 9.5 to 8.8 percent; the

percent low birth weight for births to mothers in their

forties increased.

First births to white and black mothers in their thirties

are at greater risk in terms of low birth weight than those

born to younger mothers, but this risk declined for both

white and black babies during the 1970’s. Still, first births

born to black women in their thirties are about twice as

likely as those born to white women to weigh less than 5!4

poLmds. This differential increased somewhat between 1970

and 1986.

The greater decline in the incidence of low birth weight

among first births to mothers in their thirties compared

with first births to younger mothers is probably a reflection

of the changing characteristics of older first-time mothers.

Prior to 1970, relatively few women were postponing motherhood until age 30 years or later. Rates of childlessness

were very low and the few women who did have their first

child after age 30 years probably did so not by choice but

after many years of trying unsLlcccssfL1]]yto become pregnant or to carry a pregnancy to term. Since the early 1970’s,

more women have intentionally delayed cbiklbearing.

The educational attainment of women who became

mothers at relatively older ages has dramatically increased.

Whereas in 1970 only about one-fourth of the women

having their first child at age 30 years or older were college

graduates, about one-half of their counterparts in 1986 had

completed 4 years of college. Greater educational attainment in turn is associated with more timely receipt of

prenatal care and a better outcome in terms of birtb weight.

For babies born to college graduates aged 30–34 years, only

5.8 percent were low birth weight compared with

7.5 percent for all first births to mothers in this age group

(table 14). Comparison of each of the four age groups (ages

20-39 years) shows that the percent low birth weight for

babies born to college graduates was 20–33 percent below

the average for each age group. This helps explain the

marked decline in levels of low birth weight among first

births to mothers in their thirties.

The relationships between low birth weight and educational attainment of mother for white and black babies were

similar. In every educational attainment category, however,

first births to black mothers were at roughly twice,the risk

of weighing less than 2,500 grams as were first births to

white mothers. Furthermore, within each age-of-mother

group the racial differential in low birth weight generally

increased with advancing educational attainment.

Prenatal care

As noted above, a major reason why first births to older

mothers are at a relative advantage is the high level of

educational attainment of these mothers, which in turn is a

critical factor accounting for differentials in receipt of

prenatal care. Older women who become pregnant are at a

somewhat elevated risk of certain complications. Early

receipt of prenatal care can help identify problems and

provide the physician and the mother with the opportunity

to treat them. In 1986, 94 percent of white and 86 percent

of black mothers in their thirties who were college graduates began prenatal care in the first trimester. The distribution of first births for 1986 according to month of

pregnancy in which prenata] care was begun is shown in

table 15. Among white and black women having their first

child, those in their early thirties were the most likely to

receive prenatal care early and the least likely to have

delayed care (beginning in the third trimester) or no care at

all.

10
Advanced educational attainment and early receipt of until the second or third trimester, the proportion of lowprenatal care are in turn associated with favorable levels of birth-weight babies did not exceed 5.5 percent. These relalow birth weight. Among births to women in their thirties tionships are observed for white and black women, but in

with college degrees who began prenatal care in the first each age-educational attainment-prenatal care category,

trimester, fewer than 5 percent weighed less than 5% babies born to black women had more than twice the risk of

pounds in 1986. (Data are not shown in this report.) Even low birth weight as babies born to white women.

among the few college graduates whose care was delayed

11
References

Mosher, W.D., and C.A. Bachrach. 1982. Childlessness in the

United States: Estimates from the National Survey of Family

Growth. Journal of Family Issues 78(5): 517-43.

National Center for Health Statistics, R.L. Heuser. 1976. Fe)ti/i&

Tables for Birth CohoIts by Co[or: United States, 1917-73. DHEW

Pub. No. (HRA) 76-1152. Health Resources Administration.

Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

National Center for Health Statistics, S.J. Ventura. 1982. Trends

in first births to older mothers, 1970-79. Monthly Vital Statistics

Report. Vol. 31, No. 2 Supp. 2. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 82–1 120.

Public Health Service. Hyattsville, Md.

National Center for Health Statistics, B. Berkov. 1985. An evacuation of California’s inferred birth statistics for unmarried women.

V7tal and Health Statistics. Series 2, No. 97. DHHS Pub. No.

(PHS) 85-1371. Public Health Service. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1976. Educational attainment in the

United States: March 1975. Current Population Reports, Series

P-20, No. 295. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1977. Education] attainment in the

United States: March 1977 and 1976. Czwent Population Repom.

Series P-20, No. 314. Washington: U.S. Government Printing

Office.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1982. Preliminary estimates of the

population of the United States, by age, sex, and race: 1970 to

1981. Current Population Reports. Series P–25, No. 917. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1986. Fertility of American women:

June 1985. Current Population Repotis. Series P-20, No. 406.

Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1987. Educational attainment in the

United States: March 1982 and 1985. Current Population Repotis.

Series P-20, No. 415. Washington: U.S. Government Printing

Office.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1988a. Fertility of American women:

June 1987. Current Population Repo?ts. Series P-20, No. 427.

Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1988b. Estimates of the population of

the United States, by age, sex, and race, 1980 to 1987. Cwrent

Population Repotis. Series P-25, No. 1022. Washington: U.S.

Government Printing Office.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1988c. Educational attainment in the

United States: March 1986 and 1987. Current Population Repom.

Series P–20, No. 428. Washington: U.S. Government Printing

Office.
List of detailed tables

1. Number of first births by age of mother and race of

child: United States, 1970-86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. Rate of first births byageof mother andrace of child:

United States, 1970-86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. Percent distribution of first births by age of mother,

according to race of child: United States, 1970, 1975,

1980, 1985, and 1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4. Birth rates byageof mother andrace ofchild: United

States,1970-86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. Percent distribution of live births by live-birth order,

according to age of mother and race of child: United

States, 1970,1975, 1980, 1985, and1986 . . . . . . . . . . .

6. Number of women aged 15-44 years United States,

1970,1975,1980, 1985, and 1986... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7. Numberoffirstbirthstowomen 20-39yearsofageby

race of child and percent distribution by educational

attainment of mother, according to age of mother and

race of child: Reporting area, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985,

and 1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8. First-birth rates by age and educational attainmentof

mothe~ United States, 1970 and 1975, and total of

47reporting States andthe District of Columbi~ 1980

and 1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9. First-birth rates by age and educational attainment of

14 mother and race of child: Total of47 reporting States

and the District ofColumbia,1980 and 1985.....,.. 20

15 10. Birthrates forunmarriedwomenbyage ofmotherand

race ofchild: United States, 1970, 1975, and 1980-86. 21

11. First-birth rates forunmarned women byageofmother

16 andrace ofchild: United States, 1980-86 . . . . . . . . . . 22

12. Number ofalllive births and first births to unmarried

17 mothers, by age of mother and race of child: United

States, 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

13. Percent of alllive births and first births with low birth

18 weight, by age of mother and race of child: United

States, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1986 . . . . . . . . . . . 24

18 14. Percent of first births with low birth weight for women

20-39 years of age, by age and educational attainment

of mother and race of child: 47 reporting States and the

District of Columbia, 1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

15. Percent distribution of first births by month of preg19 nancy prenatal care began, according to age of mother

and race of child: United States, 1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

20

13
Table 1. Number of first births by age of mother and race of child: United Statea, 1970-66

Age of mother

Total

first 15-19 20-24 25-29 3CH4 35-39 40-44

Year and race of child births 1 years years years years years years

All races 2

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1974, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,,

1973, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

White

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1971, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 ..,.............,.. .,

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,.

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,553,751

1,554,788

1,529,905

1,530,639

1,555,627

1,553,665

1,545,604

1,479,260

1)401,491

1,387,143

1,324,611

1,319,126

1,314,194

1,243,358

1,289,257

1,375,668

1,430,680

1,242,909

1,252,043

1,234,785

1,240,657

1,266,455

1,269,993

1,263,000

1,205,958

1,143,073

1,134,062

1,083,218

1,075,597

1,074,068

1,018,663

1,055,442

1,137,080

1,193,712

244,108

238,680

233,563

230,294

230,425

230,190

232,293

228,473

216,446

215,676

208,729

210,432

208,151

195,083

205,090

210,928

211,468

355,233

359,272

361,493

377,467

395,507

407,615

425,676

425,282

418,711

430,622

431,219

451,566

462,107

454,684

473,260

485,158

498,388

247,384

252,887

254,632

269,075

285,002

295,955

309,175

307,075

302,975

312,260

314,341

329,151

337,677

334,933

347,954

359,646

374,042

96,696

95,619

96,109

97,543

99,035

100,977

106,119

108,397

106,299

109,195

107,996

114,000

116,007

111,598

1178629

118,134

117.228

534,121

552,974

554,790

564,327

568,979

600,444

605,183

576,379

545,778

544,194

517,376

516,528

517,467

492,607

531,945

613,622

652,530

432,157

452,260

456,197

467,051

490,901

503,807

509,537

485,865

461,890

463,468

442,079

442,849

445,835

425,532

460,291

536,746

575,594

82,986

82,016

80,151

78,677

79,473

79,816

79,350

76,272

70,499

68,691

63,857

63,004

61,044

56,746

61,065

66,454

67.092

424,088

418,658

406,531

396,531

396,620

388,419

371,859

348,493

322,587

310,507

288,086

269,688

257,569

226,685

217,992

210,652

212,102

363,084

359,808

350,745

345,278

345,005

339,660

326,675

306,885

284,299

275,569

255,774

239,412

229,962

203,644

195,748

169,442

190,860

39,681

38,207

36,129

34,434

33,370

32,152

29,982

27,975

25,298

23,804

22,000

20,297

16,385

15,104

14,844

14,556

15,060

181,504

170,686

159,236

147,809

136,814

125,323

112,964

100.435

76;485

63,396

56,677

52,897

46,434

42,863

41,822

42,404

155,261

146,892

137,274

127,485

117,797

108,027

96,900

86,621

76,270

66,319

55,023

48,794

45,481

40,346

36,798

36,152

36,902

14,769

13,300

12,295

11,271

10,611

9,989

9,283

8,032

6,937

6,203

5,145

4,895

4,603

3,727

3,755

3,622

3,822

44,427

39,447

34,827

30,134

25,799

20,337

18,241

16,462

14,290

12,766

11,654

10,901

10,433

9,639

9,954

10,640

11,704

37,450

33,075

29,356

25,438

21,673

16,914

15,071

13,609

11,784

10,494

9,688

9,056

8,722

8,158

6,523

9,080

10,078

3,849

3,489

3,011

2,650

2,363

2,000

1,889

1,771

1,542

1,467

1,274

1,169

1,067

921

893

1,060

1,162

4,419

3,804

3,287

2,954

2,498

2,179

1,964

1,904

1,751

1,674

1,666

1,671

1,782

1,796

1,998

2,286

2,442

3,592

3,092

2,670

2,388

2,002

1,692

1,556

1,579

1,429

1,362

1,391

1,361

1,498

1,517

1,763

1,968

2,152

444

391

353

323

267

280

233

202

201

189

178

214

175

184

154

210

20

i Includes births to women aged under 15 yews and 45-49 years which are not shown separately.

21ncludes races other than white and black.

14

-.
Table 2. Rate of first births by age of mother and race of child: United States, 1970-66

[Ratesare first births per 1,000 women [n specified group]

Age of mother

1544 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 .35-39

Year and race of child

4(H4

yearsi years’ years years years years years

All races 2

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Whte

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1984, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1961 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

27.2

27.6

27.4

27.8

28.6

29.0

29.5

28.6

27.8

28.2

27.5

28.1

28.7

28.6

29.8

32.0

34.2

26.0

26.6

26.4

26.8

27.7

28.1

28.4

27.4

26.6

26.9

26.3

26.7

27.2

27.0

26.1

30.5

32.9

32.5

32.4

32.2

32.3

33.0

33.8

35.2

35.3

34.6

35.6

35,2

36.9

37.7

38.9

40.7

41.7

43.3

39.1

39.7

39.4

40.2

41.0

41.1

41.4

40.9

40.2

41.3

41.4

43.9

45.6

47.3

49.1

50.7

53.7

33.4

34.2

33.9

34.9

35.8

36.0

36.0

35.2

34.6

35.5

35.7

37.8

39.2

40.6

42.1

43.9

47.1

70.3

69.8

68.7

68.8

69.3

69.3

71.8

73.3

72.4

75.5

75.5

80.8

84.4

89.2

93.6

94.4

97.6

62.7

53.0

52.4

52.9

54.7

.55.7

57.3

55.0

53.1

54.1

52.9

54.0

55.8

56.0

60.6

68.9

76.2

51.6

52.3

51.7

52.5

54.5

55.6

57.2

54.8

53.0

54.2

53.0

54.2

56.1

56.1

60.7

69.5

79.4

57.3

55.9

54.5

53.8

53.6

54.4

55.9

54.6

52.1

627

51.0

51.9

52.5

54.0

58.5

63.8

69.8

38.8

38.6

38.0

37.9

38.4

38.8

38.2

36.5

34.8

34.2

31.7

31.4

31.5

29.7

29.2

30.2

31.2

39.9

39.9

39.2

39.2

39.8

40.2

39.6

37.9

36.0

35.5

32.7

32.3

32.4

30.6

29.9

31.1

32.3

27.1

26.5

25.5

24.9

25.0

25.1

24.3

23.4

22.2

21.8

20.9

20.8

20.1

18.6

18.6

16.7

19.8

17.5

16.9

16.2

15.4

14.6

13.3

12.8

11.8

10.8

9.7

8.7

8.0

7.7

7.2

7.0

7.0

7.3

17.9

17.4

16.6

15.7

14.9

13.5

12.8

11.8

10.9

9.7

8.8

7.9

7.7

7.2

6.9

7.0

7.4

11.2

10.4

9.9

9.5

9.4

9.0

9.1

8.3

7.6

7.1

6.3

6.0

5.9

5.2

5.3

5.1

5.6

4.7

4.4

4.1

3.7

3.3

2.8

2.6

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.9

1.9

1.8

1.7

1.8

1.9

2.1

4.7

4.4

4.0

3.7

3.2

2,7

2.5

2.3

2.1

2.0

1.9

1,8

1.7

1.7

1.6

1.9

2.1

3.5

3.4

3.1

2.9

2.7

2.4

2.4

2.3

2.1

2.0

1.6

1.7

1.6

1.5

1.4

1.6

1.8

0.6

0.5

0,5

0.4

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.6

0.5

0.5

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0,3

0.3

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.6

0.5

0,5

0,4

0,4

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.3

1Rates computed by relating first blt-lk, regardless of age Of mother, 10women wed 1~ Years.

‘Includes races otherthanwhlte and black.

15
Table 3. Percent distribution of first births by age of mother, according torace of child: United States, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1986

Age of mother

Under 35 years

Ail 20 20-24 25-29 30-34 and

Year and race of child ages years years years years over

All races t

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 23.5 34.4 27.3 11,7

1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3,2

100.0 23.7 35.6 26.9 11.0

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.8

100.0 28.2 39.2 24.1 7.3

1975 .,..............,..

1.3

100.0 35.1 39.2 20.4 4.3 1.0

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,0 35.6 45.6 14.8 3.0 1.0

White

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 20.2 34.8 29,2 12,5 3.3

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 20.5 36.1 28.7 11.7

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.9

100.0 24.8 40.3 25.9 7.7

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,

1.3

100.0 31.1 41.2 22.3 4.5

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.0

100.0 31.7 48.2 16.0 3.1 1.0

Black

1966 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 41.9 34,0 16.3 6.1

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.8

100.0 42.4 34.4 16,0 5.6

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.6

100.0 4&o 34.2 12.9 4.0 0.9

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 57.4 29.9 9.6 2.3 0.7

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,, 100.0 58.7 31.7 7.1 1.8 0.7

i Includes races other than white and black.
Table 4. Birth rates by age of mother and race of child: United States, 1970-66

[Birth rates are live births per 1,003 women in specitied group]

Age of mother

15-44 15-19 %24 25-29 30-34 35-39

Year and race of child

40-44

yaers~ yews yeats yeare yearn yeats years

All races z

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Whtie

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,.

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,

Blaoi(

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

65.4

66.2

65.4

65.8

67.3

67.4

66.4

67.2

65.5

66.6

65.0

66.0

67.8

6S.8

73.1

81.6

87.9

61.9

63.0

62.2

62.4

63.9

63.9

64.7

63.4

61.7

63.2

61.5

625

64.2

64.9

68.9

77.3

84.1

82.4

822

81.4

81.7

64.1

85.4

68.1

88,3

66.7

68.1

85.8

87.9

89.7

93.6

99.9

109.7

115.4

50.6

51.3

50.9

51.7

52.9

52.7

53.0

52.3

51.5

52.8

52.8

55.6

57.5

59.3

61.7

64.5

68.3

41.8

42.8

42.5

43.6

44.6

44.6

44.7

43.7

42.9

44.1

44.1

46.4

47.9

49.0

51.0

53.6

57.4

96.1

97.4

95.7

95.5

97.0

97.1

100.0

101.7

100.9

104.7

104.9

111.8

116.5

123.1

129.8

134.5

140.7

108.2

108.9

107.3

108.3

111.3

111.8

115.1

1128

109.9

112.9

110.3

113.0

117.7

119.7

130.2

150.1

167.8

101.5

102.8

101.4

102.6

105.9

106.3

109.5

107.0

104.1

107.7

105.3

106.2

113.0

114.4

124.8

144.9

163.4

143.7

140.8

137.9

137.7

139.1

141.2

146.3

146.3

143.8

144.4

140.5

142.6

146.7

153.1

165.0

186.6

202.7

109.2

110.5

108.3

106.7

111.0

112.0

112.9

111.4

108.5

111.0

106.2

106.2

111.5

112.2

117.7

134.1

145.1

108.3

110.0

107.7

108.0

110.3

111.3

112.4

110.8

107.9

110,9

105.9

108.1

111.6

112.3

117.4

134.0

145.9

105.9

105.1

103.2

103.4

106.9

106.3

109.1

106.2

105.4

106.4

101.6

1022

102.2

103.9

112.4

128.0

136.3

69.3

68.5

66.5

64.6

64.2

61.4

61.9

60.3

57.8

56.4

53.6

523

53.8

55.6

59.6

67.3

73.3

66.9

66.1

66.1

64.0

63.3

60.2

60.4

59.0

56.6

55.3

52.6

51.3

52.9

54.4

56.4

65.4

71.9

622

60.7

59.5

59.2

60.4

60.4

62.9

60.7

56.3

57.5

53.6

S3.1

54.1

56.1

64.0

74.8

79.6

24.3

23.9

228

22.1

21.1

20.0

19.8

19.5

19.0

19.2

19.0

19.5

20.2

22.1

24.8

28.7

31.7

23.3

22.7

21.7

21.0

20.0

16.7

18.5

18.3

17.7

18.0

17.8

18.2

18.9

20.7

23.3

26.9

30.0

25.5

25.5

24.6

24.7

24.4

24.2

24.5

24.7

24.3

25.4

24.8

25.6

27.0

2S4

33.4

36.9

41.9

4.1

4.0

3.9

3.8

3.9

3.8

3.9

3.9

3.9

4.2

4.3

4.6

4.8

5.4

6.2

7.1

8.1

3.7

3.6

3.5

3.5

3,5

3.4

3,4

3.6

3,5

3.8

3.9

4.2

4.4

4.9

5.6

6.4

7.5

5.1

4.9

5.1

5.2

5.4

5.6

5.8

6.1

6.1

6.6

6.8

7.5

7.6

8.6

9.8

11.6

12.5

'Com~ted byreldlng toWbiflb, mgwdlesofage of*r,lowomqed 15-44 yea.rs.

‘Includes races other than white and black.

17
Table 5. Percent distribution of live births by live-birth order, according to age of mother and race of child: United States, 1970, 1975,

1980, 1985, and 1986

[Live-birth order refers to number of children born alive to mother. Figures for live-birth order not staled are dlstrlbuted]

2+29 years 3&34 yeara 3$39 years

All 4th All 4th All 4th

birih Ist 2d 3d chtld or birth ~Sf 2d 3d child or birth Ist 2d 3d child or

Year and race of child orders child ctvld child more orders child child child more orders child ctrild child more

All rS.C6S i

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

~985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

White

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

100.0

100.0

100.0

100,0

100,0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100,0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

35.5

35.1

33.8

29,1

21.5

36.8

36.3

35.3

29.9

22.1

25.6

25.2

22.2

20.4

14.5

36.9

37.3

37.1

38.6

31.9

37.6

38.2

37.9

39.6

33.2

33,6

33.6

32.6

30.2

21.5

18.1

18.2

19.0

20.0

24.2

17.6

17.7

18.5

19.8

24.8

22.6

22.7

23.9

22.4

20.1

9.4

9.4

10,1

12.3

22.4

7.9

7.8

8.4

10.5

19.8

16.2

16,6

21,2

27.0

43.8

100.0 25,3 35.9 22.5

100.0 24.7 36.0 22.6

100.0 20.7 33.4 24.6

100,0 15.2 28.4 25.0

100,0 10.0 18.4 23,5

100.0 26.1 36.8 22.5

100.0 25.5 36.9 22.5

100.0 21.3 34.2 24.9

100,0 i 5.5 29.2 25.9

100.0 10.3 19.0 24.8

100.0 17.9 29.7 24.6

100.0 17.1 29.6 24.7

100.0 14.5 26.7 24.7

100.0 11.4 20.7 19.9

100.0 7.1 12.7 14.6

16.3

16,7

21.3

31.4

48.2

14.6

15.1

19.7

29.4

45.9

27.7

28.6

34.1

48.1

65.6

100.0 19.4 29.3 23.4

100.0 18.5 28.5 23.5

100.0 13.0 21.2 22.6

100.0 9.5 15.7 16.6

100.0 6.5 10.9 16,1

100.0 20.2 30.1 23.6

100.0 19.2 29.2 23.7

100.0 13.4 21.4 23.2

100.0 9.8 16.0 19.4

100.0 6.8 11.4 17.3

100.0 13.7 23.4 23.0

100.0 13.4 22.7 22.6

100.0 9.7 17.2 19.4

100.0 6.7 11.7 13.9

100.0 4.3 7.5 9.8

28.0

29.5

43.2

56.3

66.4

26.2

27.9

42.0

54.6

64.4

39.6

41.1

53.6

67.7

78.4

I Imludes races other than white and black.

Table 6. Number ofwomenagedl 5-44 years: United States, 1970j 1975, 1980, 1985, andl 986

[Number in thousands. Population enumerated as of April 1 for 1970 and 1980 and estimated as of July 1 for other years. Due to rounding to the nearest thousand,

detailed figures may not add to totals]

Total

15+4 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44

Year years years years years years years year3

1966 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57,483 9,128 10,183 10,982 10,407 9,467 7,316

1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,764 9,106 10,463 10,869 10,172 6,967

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7,167

53,048 10,360 10,664 9,877 8,976 7,160 5,992

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,606 10,465 9,677 8,660 7,173 5,931

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5,700

42,437 9,437 8,454 6,855 5,835 5,694 6,162

SOURCE U.S. Bureau of the Cemus.

18
.,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . % . . . . . . . .

3;:;; .

:::::

.,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

,.. . . . . .

,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a . ..* . . . ~

~~cj(g

:~.>

~amt

~a

~egy-1

~:g~

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19
Table 8. First-birth rates by age and educational attainment of mother: United States, 1970 and 1975, and total of 47 States and the

District of Columbia, 1980 and 1985

[Rates are first births per 1,000 women in specified age and educational attainment group. See Appendix]

&l 1 years 12 years 13-15 years 16 years or more

Age of mother 1985’ 1960’ 19752 19702 19851 19801 19752 1970Z 19851 19801 79752 19702 19851 79801 19752 Ig702

2C-24years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.4 41.3 40.0 44.9 66.2 72.9 69.9 93.0 44.9 43.4 45.1 73.3 28.9 39<7 40.1 61.1

25-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.2 9.7 9.4 10.0 30,7 30.1 24.5 25.3 50.7 45.0 42.2 43,3 58.1 65.8 64.4 80.3

30-34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 3.0 3.1 3.7 9.3 7.3 5.9 6.3 17.7 12.6 9.8 9.6 35.6 29.8 20.1 19.1

35-39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 0.9 1.0 1.3 2.2 1.6 1.5 1.9 4.4 2.5 2.1 2.7 9.4 6.6 4.8 5,0

1Rates are based on births which exclude data for California, Texas, ard Washington, which did rwt require repo!tlng of educational attainment of mother.

‘Rates are based on estimates of bidhs by educational attdnmeti of mother for the etiire United States see Appendix.

Table 9. First-bkth rates by age and educational attainment of mother and race of child: Total of 47 reporting States and the District of

Columbia, 1980 and 1985

[Rates are first births per 1,000 women in specified age, educational attainment, and racial group. See Appendix]

0-7 i years .“ 12 years 13-15 years 16 years or more

Race of child and

age of mother 1985 1980 1985 1980 1985 1980 1985 1980

White

2&24years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.5 44.6 65.3 73.4 42.6 41.4 27.3 37.4

25-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.3 10.0 32.2 31.4 53.6 47.3 58.5 66.1

30-34 yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.8 2.9 9.6 7.2 18.2 12.7 36.8 29.7

35-39 yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 0.9 2.1 1.5 4.4 2.4 9.4 8.3

Black

20-24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.8 28.1 68.2 67.6 57.6 54.2 46.5 59.8

25-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.4 7.0 19.9 20.3 34.6 29.4 50.8

30-34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

57.0

4.0 2.4 6.8 6.9 13.1 9.9 24.4 27.0

35-39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 0.9 2.4 2.2 4.1 2.8 8.5 7.2

NOTE: Excludes data for California, Texas, ard Weshlngton, which did net require repaling of educational attainment of mother.

20
Table 10. Birth rates for unmarried women by age of mother and race of child: United States, 1970, 1975, and 1960-86

[Rates per 1,000 unmarried women in specified group]

Age of mother

15-44 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39

Year and race of chid

40-44

years 1 years years years years years yearsz

All racess

19864 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19854 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19844 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19834 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19824 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19814 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19804 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19755 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19705 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Whfle

19864 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19854 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19844 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19634 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19824 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19814 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19804 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19755 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19705 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black

19864 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19854, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19844 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19834 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19824 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19814 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19804 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19755 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19705 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

34.3

32.8

31.0

30.4

30.0

29.6

29.4

24.5

26.4

23.2

21.8

20.1

19.3

18.8

18.2

17.6

12.4

13.9

80.9

78.8

76.6

77.7

79.6

81.4

82.9

84.2

95.5

32.6

31.6

30.2

29.7

28.9

28.2

27.6

23.9

22.4

49.7

46.8

43.2

42.0

41.4

40.9

40.9

31.2

36.4

21.5 33.5

20.5 30.9

19.0 27.8

18.5 26<4

17.7 25.7

17.1 24.9

16.2 24.4

12.0 15.5

10.9 22.5

89.9

68.8

87.1

86.4

87.0

86.8

89.2

93.5

96.9

121.4

116.1

110.7

110.0

110.2

112.5

115.1

108.0

131.5

42.0

39.8

37.0

35.6

35.1

34.7

34.0

27.5

37.0

29.2

27.3

24.5

22.9

22.2

21.6

20.7

14.8

21.1

26.9

25.0

23.2

22.3

21.9

20.8

21.1

17.9

27.1

19.2

17.5

16.1

15.3

14.7

13.6

13.6

9.8

14.2

86.7 51.1

81.4 48.8

80.0 45.0

82.0 45.3

85.5 45.8

86.4 47.2

83.9 48.2

75.7 50.0

100.9 71.8

12.2

11.6

10.9

10.3

10.0

9.8

9.7

9.1

13.6

9.3

8.6

8.0

7.5

7.1

6.9

6.8

5.4

7.6

2.7

2.5

%

2.7

2.6

2.6

2.6

3.5

2.1

1.9

1.9

1.9

2.0

1.8

1.8

1.5

2.0

21.6 4.7

21.3 4.5

20.3 4.5

20.3 4.9

20.1 5.4

20.4 5.8

19.6 5.6

20.5 7.2

32.9 10.4

1Rates ~om@ed bY ~eIa@ total Ndhs tO unmarried mothers, regardless of age Of ITOther, tO unrmrried wOfnen aged l= Years.

‘Rates computed by relating births to unmarried mothers aged 40 years and over to unmarried women aged 4044 years.

slmlude~ ~ace$ Other than ~hjte and b}a&

4Data for states In which marital status was cot reporled have been Inferred and incbded with data from the remaining Sta~ see Appemlix.

%rthstounmarrled womenareestimated fortheUnited8tates fromdataforregistration areas lnwhichmaritd statusofmcdwr wasreport~see Appendix.

21
Table 11. First-birth rates for unmarried women by age of mother and race of child: United States, 1980-86

[Rates are first births to unmarried women per 1,000 unmarried women In specified group]

Age of mother

15-44 15-19 20-24 2+29 30-34 3539 40-44

Year and race of child yearsl years years years years years yearsz

All races 3

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

White

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17,8

17,2

16.4

16.3

16.3

16.3

16.5

13,3

12.6

11.8

11.5

11.4

11.3

11.1

25.9

25.2

24,0

23,7

23.1

22.6

22.3

18.2

17,4

16,2

15.9

15.2

14.8

14.1

23.7

22.3

20.6

19.9

19.7

19.6

19.8

18.0

16.8

15.0

14.4

14.3

14.0

13.9

12.3

11.6

10.7

10.1

10.1

10.0

9.7

9.9

9.3

6.4

7.9

7.8

7.6

7.4

6.6

6.1

5.6

5.2

5.0

4.6

4.5

5.7

5.3

4.6

4.5

4.2

3.8

3.6

2.7

2.5

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.6

1.5

z

2,0

1.7

1.6

1.4

1.3

0.5

0.4

0.4

0.3

0,3

0.3

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.3

Black

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.0 65.4 48.8 20.3 8.9 3.1 0.5

1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.4 64.8 46.7 19.0 8,3 3.0 0.5

~984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.1 63.9 44.7 18.4 7.7 2.8 0.5

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.8 63.7 43.6 18.3 7.5 2.7

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

0,4

37.8 63,8 43.4 18.9 7.5 2.4

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

0.4

39.3 63.8 44.5 19.2 7.6 2.3 0.5

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘. 41.1 66.3 46.0 16.0 7.7 2.2 0.4

lRate~computed byrelatlng all fiffit Mmhstounmarried women, regardless ofageof mother, tOUnmarrled w0~na9ed l~Years,

2t3des computed by relating first births to unrw.rried women aged 40 years and over to unmarried Women aged 4W YearS.

s[”~l”de~ ra~e~ Oiher than w~te and black.

22
Table 12. Number of all live births and first births to unmarried mothers, by age of mother and race of child: United States, 1975, 198o,

1985, and 1986

Age of mother

Yeafi live-birth ordefi

40 years

All 15-19 S24 25-29 S&34 35-39 and

and race of child ages 1 years years years pars years over

All blrlhs

All racesz:

19863 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1965s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19754 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

While

1986s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19853 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1980s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19754 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black

1986s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19853 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19803 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

79754 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fkstbkths

All races’:

19863 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19853 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19803 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19754 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

white

19863 ...,,..,.......,.. . .

1985s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19603 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19754 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black

19663, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19853 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19803 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,

19754 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

878,477

828,174

665,747

447,900

466,774

432,969

320,063

186.400

380,261

365,527

325,737

249,600

453,448

431,548

370,718

272,200

264,923

246,514

200,666

128,600

173,074

168,265

159,381

136,400

280,720

270,922

262,777

222,500

149,779

142,131

127,984

93.900

122,195

120,378

128,022

123,8CKI

221,562

213,953

209,129

181,500

126,159

119,894

110,199

83,600

86,465

67,345

93,444

93,600

316,188

300,365

237,265

134,000

167,183

156,568

112,854

54,500

136,070

133,360

117,423

75,600

149,834

142,594

113,769

63,900

89,449

84,189

63,901

32,500

55,228

53,468

46,442

29,300

165,662

152,024

99,583

50,200

87,378

78,834

46,872

21,200

71,951

67,300

49,077

27,100

48,052

43,965

28,112

12,400

29,355

26,563

16,569

6,800

16,823

15,633

10,469

74,928

67,315

40,984

19,800

40,456

35,871

20,565

8,600

30,867

26,305

18,766

10,500

18,47%

16,230

8,778

3,000

11,930

10,641

5,426

1,80Q

5,359

4,813

2,978

1,100

26,967

24,038

13,167

8,100

15,783

13,714

7,073

3,600

9,810

9,027

5,513

4,200

5,880

5,041

2,011

800

4,176

3,468

1,303

1,418

1,260

604

200

4,597

4,124

2,927

2,300

2,849

2,471

1,571

1,000

1,451

1,374

1,229

1,200

,

822

684

331

200

592

486

222

100

169

153

W

100

i Includesbirths to rmthers under 15 years of age.

zlmlud=race~d~r tknwhiteandbl ack.

3Data for sates in which marital status of mother waa not reported have been inferred d included with data from the rmahing St*es: me APPndk

4Bl~h~tounmrrled ~~naree$tl~ted f~rt~unlted~~eg f~~dataforrqlstrmion aremlnwhlchmfitd Stelusofmtkrwm report@~AppeMix Ouetorourdln gblrfintolwarast

kdrad, figures by age may K!: add to total.

23
Table 13. Percent of all live births and first births with low birth weight, by age of mother and race of child: United States 1970, 1975,

1980, 1985, and 1986

[Low birth weight la defined as less than 2500 grams (51b., 8 oz.) for 1980, 1985, and 1986 and 2,500 grams or less for 1970 and 1975]

All races J White Black

Live-birth order

and age of mother 1986 1985 1980 1975 1970 1986 1985 1980 1975 1970 1986 1985 1980 1975 1970

Ail births

Alleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Under 15years . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15-19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20-24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30-34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35-39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

40years and over . . . . . . . . . . . . .

First birlhs

Alleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Under 15yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15-19 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20-24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30-34 yea as . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35-39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

40years and over . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6.8 6.8

13.8 12.9

9.3 9.3

7.0 6.9

6.0 5,9

6.1 6.0

6.9 6.9

8.3 8.4

7.1 7.1

13.4 12.5

8.6 8.6

6.5 6.4

6.1 6.2

7.3 7.4

8.8 8.9

10.1 11.1

6.8 7.4

14.6 14.1

9.4 10.0

6.9 7.1

5.8 8.1

5.9 6.6

7.0 8.2

8.3 9.5

7.1

14.2

8.7

6.4

6.2

7.3

9.5

9.7

7.6

13.8

9.2

6.6

6,4

8.1

10.3

12.6

7.9 5.6 5.6 5.7 6.3

16.6 11.1 10.5 11.2 11.3

10.5 7.6 7.6 7.7 8.1

7.4 5.7 5.7 5.7 6.0

6,9 5.1 5.0 5.0 5.4

7.5 5.2 5.2 5.1 6.1

8.7 6.0 6.0 6.1 7.3

9.2 7.* 7.4 7.4 8.7

7.9

16.4

9.5

6.7

7.0

6.6

11.7

12,9

6.1 6.1 6.1 6.6

10.7 10.0 10.8 11.2

7.2 7.2 7.2 7.7

5.5 5.5 5,5 5.6

5.5 5.5 5.7 5.9

6.6 6.8 6.7 7.5

6.1 6.7 8.5 9.3

9.0 10.4 9.2 11.4

6.6

12.5

8.6

6.4

6.2

6.7

7.6

6.4

6.6

12.5

8.0

6.0

6.5

8.0

10.8

12.3

12.5

15.8

13.2

12.2

12.2

12.5

12.9

14.8

12.2

15.4

12.2

11.5

12.0

14.2

16.3

15.9

12,4

74.8

13.3

12.0

12.0

12.4

12.7

13.7

12.2

14.5

12.4

11.3

12.2

14.6

15.5

16.4

12.5 13.1 13.9

17.2 16.2 19.1

14.0 14.8 15.7

12.6 12.8 13.4

11.2 11.2 12.2

11.1 11.6 12.3

11.7 13.2 13.4

12.4 13.0 12.9

12.6 13.3 14.1

16.8 15.8 16.7

13.0 13.7 14.5

12.0 12.4 12.9

11.8 12.3 13.1

13.5 14.3 15.2

16.4 10.1 19.0

16.6 21.8 14.5

i includes races other then white and black.

Table 14. Percent of first births with low birth weight for women 20-39 years of age, by age and educational attainment of mother and

race of child: 47 reporting States and the District of Columbia, 1986

[Low birth weight Is defined as less than 2,500 grams (5 lb., 8 OZ)]

Age of mother and o-6 *II 12 13-15 16 years

race of child Totali years years yeas years or more

All races z

Allages3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.2 10.9 9.7 7.3 6.1 5.2

20-24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7 9.4 9.3 6.7 5.7

25-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.5

5.2 8.7 11.2 7.2 5.8

30-34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.6

7.5 12.4 14,8 7.6

35-39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5.8

9.0 12.8 17.2 IY3 9.5 7.2

whne

Allagess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2 9.5 6.3 6.3 5.3 4.7

20-24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 8.9 8.1 5.7 4.7 3.8

25-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 7.7 10.2 6.4 5.1 4.2

30-34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.8 13.2 13.3 8.6 6.9

3E-2.9years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5.3

6.2 12.4 15.2 10.4 6.3 6.7

Black

Allagess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.4 14.6 13.3 12.4 10.6 10.1

20-24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.6 13.1 14.9 12.0 10.1 6.4

25-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.2 13.1 16.7 14.2 10.8

30-34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9.3

14.6 11.9 21.4 16.3 14.4 12.0

3E-39yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.5 17.2 22.9 17.6 19.6 13.0

1Includes educat Iond atfalnmant rmt stated.

‘Includes races other than white and black.

Slnciudes bh-ths to n-others aged urder 20 years and 40 years and CJder.

NOIE Exciudes data for Callforr_Ja, Texas, ard Washington, which did cot require reporting of educational attdnment of mother.

24
Table 15. Percent distribution of first births by month of pregnancy prenatal care began, according to age of mother and race of child:

United States, 1986

Age of mother

40 years

Month of pregnancy prenatal All 15-19 2&24 25-29 30-34 35-39 and

care began and race of child ages 1 years years years years years over

All races z

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0 103.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

lsl-3d month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77.4 55.8 77.2 89.3 91.0 89.7

41h-8th monlh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.4

84.8

33.6 17.9 8.4 7.1 7.8

7th-9th month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7

10.4

7.7 3.5 1.6 1.3 i .6

Noprenatal care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.5 2.9

2.9

1.4 0.7 0.6 0.9 1.6

White

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

lst-3d month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4th-6th month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7th-9thmonth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Noprenaialcare . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

lst-3d month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4th-6th month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7th-9th month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Noprenatal care . . . . . . . . . . . . .

100.0

80.4

15.3

3.2

1.2

100.0

62.6

28.2

6.1

3.0

100.0

56.1

31.9

7.3

2.7

100.0

50.2

37.7

8.5

3.7

103.0

79.4

16.2

3.1

1.2

100.0

66.8

25.5

5.1

2.6

100.0

90.7

7.4

1.3

0.5

100.0

79.2

15.5

3.0

2.2

100.0 100.0

92.2 90.8

6.2 7.0

1.1 1.5

0.5 0.7

100.0 100.0

81.8 81.2

13.2 13.9

2.8 2.2

2.2 2.7

100.0

86.0

9.6

2.5

1.7

100.0

75.6

14,4

6.4

3.6

i Includesbirths to mothers under 15 years of age.

‘Includes races other than white and black.

25
Appendix

Technical notes

Sources of data

Data shown in this report for 1985 and 1986 are based

on 100 percent of the birth certificates in all States and the

District of Columbia. The data are provided to the National

Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through the Vital

Statistics Cooperative Program (VSCP). Data for 1972–84

are based on 100 percent of the birth certificates from

States participating in the VSCP and on a 50-percent

sample of births from all other States, The number of

States providing data through the cooperative program

increased from 6 in 1972 to 46 in 1984. Data for 1970-71

are based on a 50-percent sample of births for all States.

More detailed information on sampling procedures for

1970–84 is presented in the annual reports for those

years—Vitol Statistics of the United States, Volume I, “Nasality.”

Birth probabilities

Birth probabilities and proportions of women who are

childless are derived from a specially prepared set of

fertility tables for birth cohorts that are adjusted for underregistration of births and underenumeration of the population (NCHS, 1976). Because the data necessary to prepare

these fertility tables were not available for the black population separately, these data were prepared for the white

population and for the population of all other races as a

group. The trends in first-birth rates for black and all other

women were roughly parallel during the 1970’s with the

rates for black women running about 25 percent lower than

the rates for all women other than white combined. In

recent years, the trends have differed and the proportion of

the all other population that is black has declined. Data for

birth probabilities, birth rates, and proportions childless

shown in figures 1-4 are derived from the specially prepared tables; the birth rates shown in tables 2 and 4 in this

report are the regularly published period fertility rates,

which are available for black women separately,

Educational attainment

To compute birth rates by age and education] attainment of mother for this report, two procedures were followed. For 1970 and 1975, it was necessary to estimate first

births by age and educational attainment of mother for the

United States as a whole from data reported by the States

that included information on educational attainment on

their birth certificates. This was done by inflating the

figures by educational attainment and age of mother for the

reporting States to the known totals for each age group for

the entire United States. Thus, for example, the distribution

of births by educational attainment for mothers aged 20-24

years for the reporting States was applied to the United

States total number of births to mothers aged 20--24 years

to yield the estimated number of births by educational

attainment for this age group. During the period 1970-75,

the number of States reporting educational attainment

increased from 38 (accounting for 67 percent of births in

the United States) to 42 and the District of Columbia

(accounting for 72 percent of total births).

For 1980 and 1985, special tabulations of the female

population by age, race, and educational attainment were

obtained from the U.S. Bureau of the Census for the total

of 47 States and the District of Columbia that reported

educational attainment on the birth certificate (excludes

California, Texas, and Washington). The 1980 data are

based on the 1980 census and were modified to be consistent with Office of Management and Budget categories of

race. The modification procedures are discussed in detail in

a U.S. Bureau of the Census (1982) report. The 1985 data

are derived from the Current Population Survey conducted

in June. (For information on fertility and educational attainment data obtained from this survey, see U.S,, Bureau

of the Census, 1986, 1987.)

Marital status

Beginning with 1980 data, national estimates of births

to unmarried women are derived from two sources. For

41 States and the District of Columbia, marital status is

reported directly on the birlh certificate; for the remaining

9 States that lack such an item, marital status is inferred

from a comparison of the child’s and parents’ surnames.

This procedure represents a substantial departure from the

method used prior to 1980 to prepare national estimates of

birlhs to unmarried women. The previous method assumed

that the incidence of births to unmarried women in States

with no direct question on marital status was the same as

the incidence in reporting States in the same geographic

division.

The current method represents an attempt to use

related information on the birth certificate to improve the

26
quality of national data as well as to provide data for the

individual nonreporting States. The method is based on a

comparison of the child’s surname, the mother’s present

and maiden surnames, and the father’s surname. An

evaluation of the new method and its continuing validity for

California (the largest nonreporting State) has been published (NCHS, 1985).

Racial classification

The racial designation used in this report is that of the

child, which is determined from the race of the parents as

entered on the birth certificate. When the parents are of

different races and one parent is white, the child is assigned

the other parent’s race. When the parents are of different

races and neither parent is white, the child is assigned the

father’s race with one exception: If the mother is Hawaiian

or part Hawaiian, the child is considered Hawaiian. When

the race of one parentis missing on the certificate, the child

is assigned the race of the other parent. When race is not

reported for either parent, the child is assigned the race of

the child on the immediately preceding record.

.

27
Vital and Health Statistics

series descriptions

SERIES 1.

SERIES 2.

SERIES 3.

SERIES 4.

SERIES 5.

SERIES 6.

SERIES 10.

SERIES 11.

SERIES 12.

SERIES 13.

SERIES 14.

Programs and Collection Procedures—Reports describing

the general programs of the National Center for Health

Statistics and its offices and divisions and the data collection methods used. They also include definitions and

other material necessary for understanding the data.

Data Evaluation and Methods Research—Studies of new

statistical methodology including experimental tests of

new survey methods, studies of vital statistics collection

methods, new analytical techniques, objective evaluations

of reliability of collected data, and contributions to

statistical theory. Studies also include comparison of

U.S. methodology with those of other countries.

Analytical and Epidemiological Studies—Reports presenting analytical or interpretive studies based on vital

and health statistics, carrying the analyais further than

the expository types of reports in the other series.

Documents and Committee Reports-Final reports of

major committees concerned with vital and health statistics and documents such aa recommended model vital

registration laws and revised birth and death certificates.

Comparative International Vital and Health Statistics

Reports-Analytical and descriptive reports comparing

U.S. vital and health statistics with those of other countnes.

Cognition and Survey Measurement—Reports from the

National Laborato~ for Collaborative Research in Cognition and Survey Measurement using methods of cognitive

science to design, evaluate, and test survey instruments.

Data From the National Health Interview Survey-Statistics on illness, accidental injuries, disability, use of hospital, medical, dental, and other services, and other

health-related topics, all based on data collected in the

continuing national household interview survey.

Data From the National Health Examination Survey and

the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey—

Data from direct examination, testing, and measurement

of national samples of the civilian noninstitutional ized

population provide the basis for (1) estimates of the

medically defined prevalence of specific dweases m the

United States and the distributions of the population

with respect to physical, physiological, and psychological characteristics and (2) analysis of relationships

among the various measurements without reference to

an explicit finite universe of persons.

Data From the Institutionalized Population Surveys-Discontinued in 1975. Reports from these surveys are included in Series 13.

Data on Health Resources Utilization—Statistica on the

utilization of health manpower and facilities providing

long-term care, ambulatory care, hospital care, and family

planning sewices.

Data on Health Resources: Manpower and FaciIities—

Statistics on the numbers, geographic distribution, and

characteristics of health resources includlng physicians,

dentists, nurses, other health occupations, hospitals,

nursing homes, and outpatient facilities.

SERIES 15,

SERIES 16,

SERIES 20.

SERIES 21.

SERIES 22.

SERIES 23.

SERIES 24.

Data From Special Surveys-Statistics on health and

health-related topics collected in special surveys that

are not a part of the continuing data systems of the

National Center for Health Statistics.

Compilations of Advance Data From Vital and Health

Statistics—These reports provide early release of data

from the National Center for Health Statistics” health and

demographic surveys. Many of these releases are followed

by detailed reports in the Vhal and Health Statistics

Series.

Data on Mortality-Various statistic on mortality other

than as included in regular annual or monthly reports.

Special analyses by cause of death, age, and other demographic variables; geographic and time series analyses;

and statistics on characteristics of deatha not available

from the vital records based on sample suweys of those

records.

Data on Natality, Marriage, and Divorce—Varioua statistics on natality, marriage, and divorce other than as

included in regular annual or monthly reports. Special

analyses by demographic variables; geographic and time

series analyses; studies of fertility; and statistics on

characteristics of births not available from the vital

records based on sample surveys of those records.

Data From the National Mortality and Natality Surveys—

Discontinued in 1975. Reporta from these sample surveys

based on vital records are included in Series 20 and 21,

respectively.

Data From the National Survey of Family Growth—

Statistics on fertility, family formation and dissolution,

family planning, and related maternal and infant health

topics derived from a periodic survey of a nationwide

probability sample of women 15-44 years of age.

Compilations of Data on Natelity, Mortality, Marriage,

Divorce, and Induced Terminations of Pregnancy—Advance reports of births, deaths, marriages. and divorces

are based on final data from the National Vital Statistics

System and are published annually as supplements to the

Monthly Vital Statistics Report (MVSR). These reports are

followed by the publication of detailed data in Vital Statistics of the United States annual volumes. Other reporta

including induced terminations of pregnancy issued periodically as supplements to the MVSR provide selected findings based on data from the National Vital Statistics

System and may be followed by detailed reporta in Vital

and Health Statistics Series.

For answers to questions about this report or for a Iiat of titles of

reports published in these series, contact

Scientific and Technical Information Branch

National Center for Health Statistics

Centers for Disease Control

Public Health Sewice

Hyattsville, Md. 20782

301-436-8500
US. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service

Centers for Disease Control

National Center for Health Statistics

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Hyattsville, Maryland 20782

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