CDPH report shows positive changes in Chicago birth data

Illinois Health Connect would like to congratulate the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) on the encouraging results presented in its recent report titled "Births in Chicago 1999-2009," which provides comprehensive data related to births in the city during that 11-year period.

Data presented in the report includes the number of births, fertility rates, age and health of mothers, and infant birth weight. The data is presented by age, race-ethnicity and Chicago community area. Among the findings:

• Chicago's teen birth rate decreased 33 percent during the period. This decrease is outpacing the 21 percent national decrease.
• Women seeking prenatal care during the first trimester increased 10 percent to a new high of 84.3 percent.
• The percentage of babies delivered at low birth weight decreased to 9.7 percent.
• The number of births to Chicago women who reported smoking while pregnant was cut by more than half to 3.8 percent in 2009.
• Birth rates for women 35-44 years old increased 40 percent.