This interactive map shows:
- Birth Rate by Municipality for the years 2006-2009
- the percentage of mothers that received delayed prenatal care, which means either
- prenatal care starting in the second or third trimester or
- no prenatal care at all)
- age group demographics for the year 2009.
We decided to highlight these three indicators for the following reasons:
- Birth rates can indicate upcoming population trends. If the birth rates go up, this gives policy makers and other decision makers an indication that there may be increased demand for schools and other services catering to children. It may also note economic trends as well. The recent low birth rates in the US have sometimes been attributed to the weak economy.
- Prenatal visits are important to both babies and mothers. It has been said that babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care.
- A mother’s age at time of birth can be affected by socioeconomic issues, and it can also influence socioeconomic status in the future. Teen births have been associated with greater health complications for both mother and child, and younger mothers are less likely to complete their high school or college degrees
