Changing patterns of nonmarital childbearing in the United States. 2009

Stephanie J Ventura
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Vital Statistics, Reproductive Statistics Branch, 3311 Toledo Road, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, USA.

Childbearing among unmarried women has been the subject of intense public policy and public health concern for decades, much of it reflecting concerns about the impact on family structure and the economic security of children. Nonmarital births are at higher risk of having adverse birth outcomes such as low birthweight, preterm birth, and infant mortality than are children born to married women. Children born to single mothers typically have more limited social and financial resources. This report examines data on nonmarital births from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). The principal measures reviewed are the number of births to unmarried women, the birth rate for unmarried women, and the percentage of all births to unmarried women. The most recent data available are from the 2007 preliminary birth file. Data for 2006 are shown where the 2007 data are not available. Comparisons are also made with selected earlier years reflecting key points of change.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007086 Illegitimacy The state of birth outside of wedlock. It may refer to the offspring or the parents. Legitimacy,Pregnancy, Premarital,Premarital Pregnancy,Unmarried Fathers,Unmarried Mothers,Father, Unmarried,Fathers, Unmarried,Mother, Unmarried,Mothers, Unmarried,Pregnancies, Premarital,Premarital Pregnancies,Unmarried Father,Unmarried Mother
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D001723 Birth Rate The number of births in a given population per year or other unit of time. Natality,Age-Specific Birth Rate,Age-Specific Fertility Rate,Fertility Rate,Age Specific Birth Rate,Age Specific Fertility Rate,Age-Specific Birth Rates,Age-Specific Fertility Rates,Birth Rate, Age-Specific,Birth Rates,Fertility Rate, Age-Specific,Fertility Rates,Natalities,Rate, Age-Specific Fertility,Rate, Birth,Rate, Fertility
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D014798 Vital Statistics Used for general articles concerning statistics of births, deaths, marriages, etc. Registration of Vital Statistics,Registration, Vital Statistics,Statistics, Vital,Vital Statistics Registration,Registrations, Vital Statistics,Vital Statistics Registrations
D055815 Young Adult A person between 19 and 24 years of age. Adult, Young,Adults, Young,Young Adults

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