Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026
09:35
Modified MicroSecure Vitrification: A Safe, Simple and Highly Effective Cryopreservation Procedure for Human Blastocysts
Published on: March 2, 2017
12.6K
Births in the United States, 2014
NCHS Data Brief
|October 14, 2015
Summary
Childbearing in the U.S. slightly increased in 2014, with varying trends by race. Teen births reached historic lows, while cesarean delivery and preterm birth rates continued to decline overall.
Area of Science:
- Demography
- Public Health
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- The United States experienced a slight increase in childbearing in 2014, the first since 2007.
- Significant variations in fertility trends were observed across different racial and Hispanic origin groups.
- Teen childbearing reached historic lows across all demographic categories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze national birth trends in the United States for 2014.
- To examine demographic variations in fertility, cesarean delivery, and preterm birth rates.
- To report on key indicators of maternal and infant health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of national vital statistics data for births in 2014.
- Examination of trends in General Fertility Rate (GFR) by race and Hispanic origin.
- Assessment of cesarean delivery rates and preterm birth rates across demographic groups.
Main Results:
- The General Fertility Rate (GFR) increased for non-Hispanic white and Asian/Pacific Islander women, but decreased or remained stable for other groups.
- Cesarean delivery rates declined for the second consecutive year, with a notable decrease among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women in 2014.
- Preterm birth rates continued their downward trend overall, though significant disparities in risk persisted among different racial and ethnic groups.
Conclusions:
- While overall childbearing slightly increased, demographic disparities persist.
- Declining cesarean delivery and preterm birth rates indicate positive public health shifts, but equity concerns remain.
- Further detailed analysis in "Births: Final data for 2014" will provide comprehensive insights.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Population Growth
29.5K
Population size is dynamic, increasing with birth rates and immigration, and decreasing with death rates and emigration. In ideal conditions with unlimited resources, populations can increase exponentially, which plots as a J-shaped growth rate curve of population size against time. This type of curve is characteristic of newly-introduced invasive species, or populations that have suffered catastrophic declines and are rebounding.
29.5K
01:22Birth Control Methods
7.3K
Vasectomy is a surgical form of male sterilization that involves severing and sealing the vasa deferentia, preventing sperm from mixing with semen during ejaculation. Because a vasectomy does not impact the testes' ability to produce testosterone, hormone levels, libido, and sexual function generally remain unchanged. While vasectomy is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, with a success rate near 99.85%, rare cases of recanalization (spontaneous reconnection) can occur. Although...
7.3K
01:22Applications of Life Tables
416
Life tables are versatile across various fields, providing a quantitative basis for analyzing mortality and survival rates. Whether used by demographers, actuaries, epidemiologists, or sociologists, life tables offer valuable insights into the dynamics of life and death, facilitating informed decisions in public health, insurance, conservation, and beyond. Their broad applicability highlights the interconnectedness of demographic data with practical outcomes in everyday life and strategic...
416
01:14Fetal Circulation
4.5K
Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
4.5K
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
37
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
37
01:22Life Tables
654
A life table is a statistical tool that summarizes the mortality and survival patterns of a population, providing detailed insights into the likelihood of survival or death across different age intervals within a cohort. By organizing data on survival probabilities and mortality rates, life tables offer a clear snapshot of population dynamics over time. They are extensively used in demography, public health, actuarial science, and ecology to analyze life expectancy, design health interventions,...
654