The annual conference of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT-C) has become a key forum for all those with an interest in the use of learning technology in tertiary education. It brings together like-minded people and enables the collaboration that is so important to effective design, development and implementation of computer-facilitated learning.DOI: 10.1080/0968776000080101
This review summarizes current vital statistics obtained from birth and death certificates for US residents. Patterns and trends were assessed according to age, race/ethnicity, and other characteristics. Infant mortality was defined as death at age younger than 1 year, and infant mortality rates (IMRs) were computed. Neonatal mortality rates (NMRs) were determined for infant deaths at age younger than 28 days, and postneonatal mortality rates (PNMRs) included infant deaths at 28 days to less than 1 year of age. In 2011, 3,953,593 births were recorded, 1% and 4% fewer than in 2010 and 2009, respectively. The crude birth rate was 12.7 births/1000 total population in 2011, the lowest rate ever. The general fertility rate decreased to a record low of 63.2 in 2011 compared with 64.1 in 2010. Birth rates declined among women aged 15 to 29 years and reached historic lows for those aged 15 to 19 and 20 to 24 years, whereas rates increased for women aged 35 to 39 and 40 to 44 years. The teenage birth rate decreased by 8% from 2010 to 2011 and was at an all-time low of 31.3 births/1000 women. Birth rates for teenagers 15 to 17 and 18 to 19 years old decreased by 11% and 7% from 2010 to 2011 (15.4/1000 and 54.1/1000, respectively, in 2011). The teenage birth rate fell by 49% from 1991 through 2011. The rate for women aged 30 to 34 years was unchanged from 2010 to 2011 at 96.5 births/1000, whereas the birth rate for women aged 35 to 39 years increased by 3% in 2011 to 47.2/1000 from 45.9/1000 women in 2010. The birth rate for women aged 40 to 44 years increased by 1% in 2011 to 10.3/1000 from 10.2/1000 women in 2010. The birth rate for women aged 45 to 49 years was unchanged at 0.7 for 2011 and 2010. The cesarean delivery rate remained at 32.8% in 2011 compared with 2010, after a steady increase from 1996 to 2009. In 2010, the twin birth rate declined to 33.1 twins/1000 total births from 33.2 in 2009. The twin birth rate increased by 76% overall from 1980 to 2009. The triplet/+ rate was 137.6/100,000 total births in 2010 compared with 153.5 in 2009, a decrease of 10%. In 2011, the preterm birth rate was 11.7% compared with 12.0% in 2010. The early preterm percentage birth rate declined from 3.5% to 3.4%, and the late preterm rate from 8.5% to 8.3%. In 2011, 23,910 infant deaths were reported. The IMRs, NMRs, and PNMRs were, respectively, 6.05, 4.04, and 2.01 deaths/1000 live births. Over the whole period, the IMR, NMR, and PNMR each decreased by ∼13%; for 2011, however, only the PNMR (2.01) was lower than the 2010 rate (2.10). In 2011, 56.4% of all infant deaths were due to congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (20.8%); disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight (17.2%); sudden infant death syndrome (7.2%); newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (6.6%); and accidents (4.6%). These 5 leading causes of infant death were the same in 2010. Vital statistics are essential for monitoring the health of a population. The value of the data will improve through efforts to advance data quality, especially that for health and medical information. Multiple strategies by various state and federal agencies and associations are being developed and implemented to assess and improve data quality.
This report presents selected highlights from 2021 final birth data on key demographic, healthcare use, and infant health indicators. The number of births, general fertility rates (GFRs) (births per 1,000 females aged 15-44), age-specific birth rates (births per 1,000 females in specified age group), vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) delivery rates, and preterm (less than 37 weeks of gestation) birth rates are presented. Results for 2019, 2020, and 2021 are shown for all births to provide context for changes in birth patterns noted during 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (1,2). VBAC and preterm birth rates are shown for the three largest race and Hispanic-origin groups: non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic.
A primary goal of the 2003 revision of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth was to improve data quality, in part by improving data sources, definitions, and instructions. This report evaluates the quality of selected medical and health data from the 2003 revision of the birth certificate by comparing birth certificate data with information abstracted from hospital medical records.A random sample of records for 600 births that occurred in 2010-2011 in State A, and a convenience sample of 495 births that occurred in State B in 2009 were reviewed. Birth certificate and hospital medical record data were compared for these categories: pregnancy history, prenatal care, gestational age, birthweight, pregnancy risk factors, obstetric procedures, onset of labor, source of payment, characteristics of labor and delivery, fetal presentation, method of delivery, abnormal conditions of the newborn, infant living, and infant breastfed. Levels of missing data, exact agreement, kappa scores, sensitivity, and false discovery rates are presented, where applicable.Exact agreement or sensitivity, was high for a number of items for both states (e.g., number of cesarean deliveries, cephalic presentation, cesarean delivery, and birthweight within 500 grams), but exact agreement or sensitivity was low or extremely low for both states for several items (e.g., total number of prenatal visits, previous preterm birth, meconium staining, and fetal intolerance of labor) (Figure 1). Levels of agreement or sensitivity for most items (e.g., prenatal care beginning in first trimester and source of payment-private insurance) were substantial or moderate. Data quality varied by state, and often, varied widely by hospital.
Presents provisional 2020 data on U.S. births, shown by age and race and Hispanic origin of mother. Also presents data on cesarean delivery and preterm births.
Data from the National Vital Statistics System •There were 3.978 million births in the United States in 2015, down less than 1% from 2014. •The 2015 U.S. general fertility rate (births per 1,000 women aged 15-44) was down 1% from 2014. •Birth rates dropped in 2015 to record lows among women under age 30 and rose for those aged 30-44. •The cesarean delivery rate declined to 32.0% of births in 2015; the preterm birth rate rose slightly to 9.63% from 2014 to 2015. This report presents several key demographic and maternal and infant health indicators using 2015 final birth data. Trends in general fertility rates, age-specific birth rates, cesarean and low-risk cesarean delivery, and preterm birth rates are presented. Data are from the national vital statistics birth files.
After nearly 20 years of consecutive increases, induction of labor for singleton births reached a high of 23.8% in 2010, then declined in 2011 (23.7%) and 2012 (23.3%). Trends in induction rates vary by gestational age, with rates for most gestational age groups declining since 2010. Induction rates for births at 36, 37, and 38 weeks have declined since 2006, with the largest decrease at 38 weeks. From 2006 through 2012, induction rates at 38 weeks of gestation declined for all maternal age groups under 40 and for each of the largest race and Hispanic origin groups. Induction rates at 38 weeks declined for 36 states and the District of Columbia (DC) from 2006 through 2012, with declines ranging from 5% to 48%; rates for 31 states and DC declined at least 10%. During the 1980s, 1990s, and through 2006, the length of pregnancies in the United States shortened (1). From 1981 through 2006, the proportion of infants born at less than 39 completed weeks of gestation increased nearly 60%, while births at 39 weeks or more declined more than 20%. This shift in the gestational age distribution has been associated with greater use of cesarean delivery and induction of labor prior to full term (2-4). In more recent years, however, the trend towards shorter gestational ages has partially reversed. Since 2006, births delivered at less than 39 weeks have declined (down 12%), and births at 39 weeks or more have increased (up 9%) (1). This report explores trends in induction of labor for singleton births by gestational age, maternal age, race and Hispanic origin, and state for 2006-2012.
*Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine Miami, Florida and †Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Hyattsville, Maryland Correspondence: Barbara Luke, ScD, MPH, RD, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, Highland Professional Bldg., 1801 NW 9thAvenue (Room 200H), Miami, FL 33136. E-mail:[email protected]
Objectives- This report presents 2022 data on U.S. births by selected characteristics. Trends in fertility patterns and maternal and infant characteristics are described. Methods-Descriptive tabulations based on birth certificates of the 3.67 million births registered in 2022 are shown by maternal age, live-birth order, race and Hispanic origin, marital status, tobacco use, prenatal care, source of payment for the delivery, method of delivery, gestational age, birthweight, and plurality. Selected data by mother's state of residence and birth rates also are shown. Trends for 2010 to 2022 are presented for selected items, and by race and Hispanic origin for 2016-2022. Results-A total of 3,667,758 births occurred in the United States in 2022, essentially unchanged from 2021. The general fertility rate declined 1% from 2021 to 56.0 births per 1,000 females ages 15-44 in 2022. The birth rate for females ages 15-19 declined 2% from 2021 to 2022; birth rates fell 7% for women ages 20-24, rose 1% to 5% for women ages 25-29 and 35-44, and rose 12% for women ages 45-49 (the first increase since 2016). The total fertility rate declined less than 1% to 1,656.5 births per 1,000 women in 2022. Birth rates declined for unmarried women but increased for married women from 2021 to 2022. Prenatal care beginning in the first trimester declined to 77.0% in 2022; the percentage of women who smoked during pregnancy declined to 3.7%. The cesarean delivery rate was unchanged in 2022 (32.1%); Medicaid was the source of payment for 41.3% of births. The preterm birth rate declined 1% to 10.38%; the low birthweight rate rose 1% to 8.60%. The twin birth rate was unchanged in 2022 (31.2 per 1,000 births); the 2% decrease in the triplet and higher-order multiple birth rate.
This report presents 2012 data on U.S. births according to a wide variety of characteristics. Data are presented for maternal age, live-birth order, race and Hispanic origin, marital status, attendant at birth, method of delivery, period of gestation, birthweight, and plurality. Birth and fertility rates are presented by age, live-birth order, race and Hispanic origin, and marital status. Selected data by mother's state of residence and birth rates by age and race of father also are shown. Trends in fertility patterns and maternal and infant characteristics are described and interpreted.Descriptive tabulations of data reported on the birth certificates of the 3.95 million births that occurred in 2012 are presented.A total of 3,952,841 births were registered in the United States in 2012. The general fertility rate declined to 63.0 per 1,000 women aged 15-44. The teen birth rate fell 6%, to 29.4 per 1,000 women. Birth rates declined for women in their twenties and increased for women aged 30-44. The total fertility rate (estimated number of births over a woman's lifetime) declined 1% to 1,880.5 per 1,000 women. The rate of births to unmarried women declined; the percentage of births to unmarried women was essentially stable at 40.7%, but the number of births to unmarried women increased slightly. The cesarean delivery rate was unchanged at 32.8%. The preterm birth rate declined for the sixth straight year to 11.55%; the low birthweight rate declined slightly to 7.99%. The twin birth rate was stable at 33.1 per 1,000 births; the rate of triplet and higher-order multiple births dropped 9% to 124.4 per 100,000 total births.
