Success in Health
Births to Unmarried Parents in Allen County, Indiana
| PERCENT BIRTHS TO UNMARRIED MOTHERS, ALLEN COUNTY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
Total |
34.8% |
35.7% |
36.3% |
37.0% |
38.1% |
38.9% |
White |
27.6% |
27.9% |
29.4% |
30.0% |
31.6% |
32.0% |
Black |
79.1% |
81.0% |
80.7% |
81.0% |
80.4% |
82.0% |
| PERCENT BIRTHS TO UNMARRIED MOTHERS---INDIANA | ||||||
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
Total |
34.6% |
35.6% |
36.5% |
37.1% |
38.8% |
40.1% |
White |
29.8% |
30.9% |
31.9% |
32.6% |
34.4% |
35.8% |
Black |
75.9% |
75.8% |
76.5% |
76.3% |
77.9% |
77.0% |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
TRANSLATING PERCENTAGES TO NUMBERS: The number of babies born each year in Allen County to an unmarried mother, i.e. a single parent: |
| Note: The numbers may be slightly higher than what is shown above. The number of births for other races for single mothers not reported by the Indiana State Department of Health |
There are usually two populations at risk when a baby is born to an unmarried mother: the mother, especially if that mother is a teen, and the child. Teenagers who become parents are more likely to face economic and educational challenges. Nationally, only one third of teen mothers receive their high school diploma. Social supports and parenting skills are also less likely to be found with teen mothers. Non-marital childbearing are also associated with these correlations: the mother is less likely to obtain adequate prenatal care; mother is more likely to engage in behavioral risks during pregnancy (drugs, alcohol); baby is more likely to have a low birth weight; baby is more likely to die during infancy; the child is more likely to be abused; and the child is more likely to have health, emotional, and behavioral problems, is more likely to go to prison, and the (female) baby is more likely to grow up and become a teen parent herself.
According to data released by the Census1 , the percentage of households in poverty is almost doubled for single parent households, which are predominantly headed by a female, than for households with 2 parents.
Definitions, Sources and Caveats:
1 Current Population Reports, P20-547. U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, D.C. available on the internet at http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p20-547.pdf last retrieved April 2006.