Honolulu raises its rate of healthy births

Honolulu is doing a good job - and better than the national average - in giving babies a healthful start in life, according to two national trend reports being released today.

An analysis of statistics from 1990 to 1998 showed positive trends in the factors affecting the health of children born in the city and county of Honolulu, as measured in the KIDS COUNT and Child Trends surveys. The reports compared to similar data from the nation’s 50 largest cities.

In Honolulu, "The Right Start State Trend" and "The Right Start City Trend" show:

A reduction in repeat births to teen mothers; children born to teen mothers are at higher risk for various physical and social problems. This dropped from 17 percent in 1990 to 14 percent in 1998. As well, teen births were less common in Honolulu in that decade, accounting for 8 percent of Honolulu births in 1990 and 7 percent in 1998, compared to a 50-city average of 15 percent for both years.

A reduction in births to mothers who received late prenatal care, or none; a lack of prenatal care is a factor in birth-related problems. While this stood at 6 percent in 1990, it dropped to less than 2 percent by 1998.

A reduction in births to mothers who smoked during pregnancy; smoking can place an unborn child at risk. This dropped from 11 percent in 1990 to 5 percent in 1995 through ’98.

Births to mothers with less than a high school education were much less common than in the 49 other largest cities; children born to mothers with less schooling are at higher risk for living in poverty. These mothers accounted for 9 percent of Honolulu births in 1998, compared with a 50-city average of 27 percent.

The percentage of babies who had a low birthweight, another health risk factor, remained at 7 percent throughout the decade, compared with 9 percent nationally.

The proportion of premature Hono-lulu births was 11 percent by 1998, compared with a 50-city average of 13 percent.

Only in one area did Hawai‘i statistics rise: Births to unmarried women went from 21 percent in 1990 to 25 percent in 1998. A similar upward trend was seen across all 50 cities, but Honolulu remained well below the 50-city average.

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