IntroductionTexas is one of the largest states in the United States and is represented by a large and highly diverse population. As a result, there are a large number of births on an annual basis in various counties throughout the state. For instance, in 2015, a total of 387,110 live births occurred, which demonstrated an increase of 1.2 percent over the prior year and a slow yet steady increase of 2.6 percent in comparison to the prior decade (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2015).
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Based upon the number of live births in Texas, 40.7 percent of these births were to White mothers, a slight increase, and 47.9 percent were to Hispanic mothers, which represents a decrease from 48.4 percent over the prior decade; furthermore, births to Black mothers increased to 11.4 percent, an increase from 11.1 percent over the prior decade (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2015). Within this group, 53.6 percent of all mothers who gave birth in 2015 were between the ages of 20 and 29, while 23.4 percent were between the ages of 30 and 34 (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2015). Younger mothers aged 18 and 19 represented 6.7 percent of the population, and 10.7 percent of women were between the ages of 35 and 39 (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2015).
Of the women who gave birth in Texas in 2015, 57.6 percent were married, but the differences between marriages among different ethnicities and races were significant; for instance, 79.6 percent of White women between the ages of 25 and 29 were married, while 39.1 percent of Black women were married at the time of giving birth (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2015). It should also be noted that 62.5 percent of women who gave birth sought and received prenatal care during the first trimester; however, 4.9 percent of these mothers did not have any prenatal care prior to giving birth (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2015).
On a positive note, the number of low birth weight babies decreased to 7 percent, which was below the 8.3 percent that was reported in the prior year, and represents a decade-long downward trend in low birth weight babies (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2015). Of this population of low birth weight children, 10.5 percent were born to Black mothers, 6.5 percent to Hispanic mothers, and 6.6 percent to White mothers, with a higher level of risk among mothers of the younger and older age groups (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2015). This reflects the importance of understanding the risk factors and differences between races and ethnicities in regards to premature births among the state population. Finally, 51.2 percent of all live births were males, and 48.8 percent were females, with 37.9 percent designated as the first birth for a mother, and 96.7 percent of all births were of one child (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2015).
Conclusion
Live births in the State of Texas are representative of a large sample size due to the overall size of the state and its diverse population. As a result, there are a larger number of births that occur across all races and are represented by a number of different demographic groups, each of which possess unique cultural identities and needs. Although the statistics appear to be stable, there are concerns that must be addressed relative to access to prenatal care and other considerations that impact the health and wellbeing of mothers and their children. These findings suggest that the needs of mothers throughout the state are of critical importance and require the support and guidance of healthcare providers and other groups so that these mothers are able to give birth at full term and under the best possible care that is available.
- Texas Department of State Health Services (2015). 2015 Natality Narrative. Retrieved from https://www.dshs.texas.gov/chs/vstat/vs13/nnatal.aspx
