Thaindian News

Dec 21 (THAINDIAN NEWS) The birth rate in the United States has hit the lowest rate which it has ever been at since the data has been available, according to the CDC, or Centers for Disease Control. The national birth rate has been on the decline for the last twelve years, and the birth rate among teenagers has also fell to a record low from the down hill slide which started back in 1991.

Experts say that the decline is partially due to the sinking economy, and claim that the recession from December of 2007 is a major factor in the lowering of teen pregnancies. Sarah Brown, the CEO of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy stated, ”I’m not suggesting that teens are examining futures of 401ks or how the market is doing, but I think they are living in families that experience that stress. They are living next door to families that lost their jobs… The recession has touched us all.”

The birth rates of every age has declined, except for the mother over the age of forty. The birth rates among women of standard “childbearing age”, which is between their 20’s and 30’s has been dipping, while the birth rate of older mothers, aged thirty five to forty four were rising. After age forty five, the birth rate was pretty much even.

The decline of teen pregnancy is seen as a victory by experts. Tommy Thompson, Human Services Secretary said in a CDC press release, “The reduction in teen pregnancy has clearly been one of the most important public health success stories of the past decade. The fact that this decline in teen births is continuing represents a significant accomplishment.”