Report on health status of US children released - Specialty Assembly - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

AORN Journal, Jan, 2002

The Health Resources and Services Administration has released its 12th annual report, titled Child Health USA 2001, according to a Nov 23, 2001, news release from the organization. This report examines the health status and service needs of US children.

According to the release, birth rates among adolescents fell to a record low in 1999, when less than 50 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 19 occurred. The report outlines other findings.

* Teen birth rates are higher among minority groups. In 1999, the adolescent birth rate among Hispanics was 93 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 19, and among African Americans, it was 84 births per 1,000 women.

* The mortality rate of African American infants in 1999 was twice that of Caucasian infants, with 14.6 deaths per 1,000 live births for African Americans and 5.8 for Caucasians.

* In 2000, approximately 73% of children ages 18 to 35 months were fully immunized, and approximately one million children still needed one or more doses of vaccine.

* The percentage of children covered by private health insurance or public programs increased. The proportion of uninsured children declined from 15.4% to 13.9% between 1998 and 1999. The proportion dropped from 26.4% to 24.2% for children living in poverty.

* Children with disabilities make more physician visits than other children per year.

HRSA's Child Health USA 2001 Reports Teen Birth Rate at Record Low (news release, Rockville, Md: Health Resources and Services Administration, Nov 23, 2001) http:/www.hrsa.gov/Newsroom/NewsBriefs/2001 /childhealth.htm (accessed 29 Nov 2001).