US, Arizona see historic lows in birth rates

A new report shows that birth rates in Arizona and across the U.S. are at historic lows.

The National Center for Health Statistics released data from 2016 on Friday that puts the national fertility rate for women between 15- and 44-years-old at 62 births per 1,000 women.

The Arizona Republic reports that the Arizona Department of Health Services preliminary data estimates that state’s fertility rate is 63.9 – the lowest it’s been since at least 1980, the earliest data available.

There has also been a national decline in births by women in their teens and 20s.

National birth rates for women in their 30s and 40s have risen, but Scottsdale obstetrician Dr. Julie Kwatra says it’s not enough to offset the lower rates in younger women.

___

Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.