New report provides look at well-being of children

Statewide, maternal and infant health are improving, according to a new report by the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities. The report, "The State of Texas Children 2007," provides the latest look at the well-being of children in every county in Texas.

"The report finds that when it comes to maternal and infant health, Texas has much to be thankful for," said Frances Deviney, Texas Kids Count director. "At the same time, work remains in other areas. Statewide, child poverty is up for the fifth straight year, unemployment has increased, and Texas continues to have the highest rates of uninsured children in the nation."

Findings for Lampasas County show:

• the proportion of women receiving little or no prenatal care decreased by 35 percent since 2002. As of 2004, 54 babies -- almost 23 percent of all births locally -- were born to women who received little or no prenatal care. This roughly matches the statewide statistic of one in four babies born to mothers who receive little prenatal care.

• the infant mortality rate has increased since 2000. As of 2004, 3 babies died prematurely. Statewide, infant mortality has increased by 9 percent since 2000.

• the rate of babies born to teens increased by 33 percent since 2000. As of 2004, 43 babies were born to Lampasas County teens. Although statewide statistics show births to teens age 13-19 have declined by 10 percent since 2000, Texas still has the highest teen birth rate in the country.

Other findings for Lampasas County show 27 percent of local children live in poverty, up since 2000, and about 2,700 county residents or 14 percent of the population, live in poverty, a rate unchanged since 2000.

A recent Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System survey of new Texas mothers also finds that they are engaging in healthier behaviors.

The percent of Texas women who drank alcohol during the last three months of their pregnancy dropped by 8 percent from 2002 to 2003, and the percent of mothers who breastfed their baby after delivery increased from 75 percent to 77 percent.

To learn more about how Lampasas County or the state as a whole fared across all indicators, visit www.cppp.org/factbook07.

The Center for Public Policy Priorities is a non-profit policy research organization committed to improving conditions for low- and moderate-income Texans. CPPP also is the Texas home to Kids Count, a national effort to track the well-being of children.