DHSS Press Release |
Date: September 4, 2007 DHSS-95-2007 |
| Vincent P. Meconi, Secretary Jay Lynch, Communications Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 Email: jay.lynch@state.de.us |
Contact: Reporters Phone: 302-744-4907 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DPH ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF 2005 VITAL STATISTICS ANNUAL REPORT
The Delaware Division of Public Health's Health Statistics Center announces the release of its 2005 Vital Statistics Annual Report. Vital statistics data are compiled from birth, death, fetal death, marriage and divorce certificates, and abortion reports.
Highlights of the reports include:
- Disparities between blacks and whites continued to be prominent in the data. Disparities were largest for: low birthweight births, infant mortality rates, fertility rates, and mortality rates for HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and homicide.
- The black HIV/AIDS mortality rate in 2001-2005 was 14.5 times that of whites.
- Heart disease, cancer, and stroke remained the three leading causes of death.
- The leading causes of death with the lowest median age at death were homicide (29 years) and drug-induced deaths (42 years).
- Deaths of infants under one year of age accounted for 1.4 percent of all deaths in 2005; deaths of those 75 and older accounted for 56 percent of all deaths.
- The average life expectancy for a child born in 2005 was 77.7 years.
- Delaware's infant mortality rate (IMR) remained stable at 9.2 deaths per 1,000 births in 2001-2005. At 17.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, the black IMR was more than double both the white rate of 6.8 and the Hispanic rate of 7.2.
- Disorders related to short gestation and fetal malnutrition accounted for the greatest number of infant deaths, followed by birth defects and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Over one-quarter (12 out of 43) of SIDS deaths were associated with co-sleeping with adults and/or sleeping on soft surfaces, such as couches and adult beds.
- From 1991-1995 to 2001-2005, Delaware teen (ages15-19) birth rates decreased 22% to 44.3 live births per 1,000 teens.
- White Delaware teen birth rates decreased 14% to 34.4 and black teen birth rates decreased 40% to 72.3. The larger decrease in black teen rates reduced the black/white disparity ratio from 3 in 1991-1995 to 2.1 in 2001-2005.
- In contrast to the state numbers, Kent County's black teen rates rose over the past five time periods due to an increase in the rate for black teens aged 18-19. This increase widened its disparity ratio from 1.3 to 2.
- Though Sussex County experienced no increases in its teen birth rates, it continued to have the highest birth rates for black and white teens of both age groups (15-17 and 18-19).
- US teen birth rates see trends similar to Delaware's. Although US white teen birth rates decreased at a greater rate of change, they were initially higher than Delaware's white rates and remained so in 2001-2005. US black teen birth rates decreased at a rate similar to Delaware's, but their initial rate was lower and remained so in 2001-2005.
- In 2005, 44 percent of live births in Delaware were to unmarried mothers. In Wilmington, that proportion was 70 percent.
- Nearly 15 percent of Delaware women who smoked while pregnant gave birth to low birthweight babies, versus 8.8 percent of non-smokers who gave birth to low birthweight babies.
- Though the percent of Delaware mothers who received prenatal care in the first trimester remained high (84.7), attainment of prenatal care varied by geography, race, and mother's age. The proportions ranged from 27.2 percent of Hispanic mothers under 20 in Sussex County, to 94.8 percent of white mothers 30 and over in New Castle County.
- The most common boys' names in 2005 were Michael, Ryan, Joshua, and Anthony. The most common girls' names were Madison, Emily, Sarah, and Ava.
- Both marriage and divorce rates continued their decline.
The report may be accessed at the following website: www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hp/2005.html. For more information, please call the DPH Health Statistics Center at (302) 744-4541.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
