LANSING, MI – Fewer Michigan teenagers are having babies, and the state is seeing fewer premature births, according to a new report looking at health and birth trends.
But the Kids Count in Michigan Right Start report indicates that the number of babies born to unwed mothers has risen dramatically over the last decade, accounting for 41 percent of babies born between 2008 and 2010.
The report, released today by the Michigan League for Human Services’ Kids Count in Michigan project, looks at eight maternal and infant health measures and ranks 81 of the state’s 83 counties.
Houghton, Ottawa, Livingston and Leelanau counties appear at the top of the rankings, while Berrien, Calhoun, Alcona, and Genesee posted the lowest scores. Ontonagon and Keweenaw counties did not have enough information to be included.
Kids Count in Michigan Project Director Jane Zehnder-Merrell said there was some “really good news” in the report, especially the statewide figures showing a 15 percent drop in births to teen mothers who already had at least one child.
“That speaks to the interventions that have come into place, especially in Wayne County, where we have seen a huge decrease,” she said.
“People are realizing that, even in their 20s, it is hard to raise children and finish their education and do a job and find someone to watch their kids while doing those things. It’s very challenging.”
An average of 11,700 babies were born Michigan women under age 20 between 2008 and 2010, accounting for about 9.9 percent of all births, down from 11.1 percent a decade ago. The percentage of babies born to teens who were already mothers dropped by 15 percent.
But the number of low-birth weight babies increased by 7 percent over the decade and the number of babies born to unwed mothers increased from 34 percent to 41 percent over the last decade.
Zehnder-Merrell said babies born to teen or unmarried mothers have a greater risk of living in poverty or not getting the pre-natal and early childhood care they need to make sure the children are healthy.
She said the positive trends are more likely to continue if the state continues to fund programs included in the Department of Community Health’s October summit on infant mortality.
Gov. Rick Snyder recommended about $1 million for the programs, but that was rejected by the appropriations subcommittees in both houses.
The group calls for improving safety net programs including food stamps and welfare for low-income families during economic downturns.
The report also supports Snyder’s call for a state healthcare exchange, which helps families compare prices for health services.
The Kids Count in Michigan project is a partnership between the Michigan League for Human Services and Michigan’s Children.
The Right Start report is part of the Kids Count in Michigan project, which is funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation and United Ways.