Births: final data for 2007.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional national vital statistics registry report (by design analogy)
What was done
Descriptive tabulations were generated from birth certificate data for 4,316,233 registered births in the United States in 2007, along with preliminary data covering 99.9% of 2008 births. Denominators for population-based rates were postcensal estimates from the 2000 U.S. census. Characteristics evaluated included maternal demographics, lifestyle factors, obstetric procedures, delivery method, and infant health outcomes.
What was found
A total of 4,316,233 births occurred in the U.S. in 2007, the largest number ever reported. The general fertility rate rose 1% to 69.5 per 1,000, and the total fertility rate rose 1% to 2,122.0 births per 1,000 women. Teen birth rates rose 1% for the year (up 5% from 2005). Unmarried childbearing reached record levels. The cesarean delivery rate rose to an all-time high of 31.8%. Preterm and low birthweight rates declined slightly, while multiple birth rates were essentially unchanged. Preliminary 2008 data indicated an overall decline in birth numbers and rates.
Why it matters
This report establishes the official, comprehensive national vital statistics benchmarks for U.S. fertility, maternal characteristics, and perinatal outcomes for the 2007 calendar year.
Limits
As a vital statistics surveillance report, it relies on birth certificate recording accuracy across various jurisdictions. It is purely descriptive, cannot assess causality for observed demographic or clinical shifts, and depends on postcensal population estimates for rate denominators.
Cited by
- supports Approximately 710,000 fewer children were born in the United States in the past year compared to the peak in 2007.