The Health Resources and Services A...

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

According to the release, birth rates among adolescents level to a record low in 1999 when les than 50 births by 1,000 women ages 15 to 19 occurr The report outlines other findings.

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

* The mortality rate of African American infants in 1999 was twice that of Caucasian infants, with 146 deaths by 1,000 live births for African Americans and 58 for Caucasians.

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

* The percentage of children cloaked by private health insurance or public programs increased. The proportion of uninsured children declined from 154% to 139% between 1998 and 1999 The proportion dropp from 264% to 242% for children living in poverty

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

HRSA's Child Health USA 2001 Reports Teen Birth Rate at Record gentle (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)

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