POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS
Socio-demographic characteristics provide a
comprehensive picture of the country's diverse
maternal and child population. The proportion
of children ages 21 and below comprises roughly
one-third of the U.S. population.
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At the national, state, and local levels, policy-makers
use population information to systematically address
health-related issues of mothers and children. By
carefully analyzing and comparing data, health workers
can often isolate high-risk populations that require
specific interventions. Policy-makers can then tailor
programs to meet the needs of those populations.
The following section presents data on several population
characteristics that have an impact on maternal and
child health program development and evaluation. These
include age, poverty status, living arrangements by
head of household, school dropout rates, and child
care trends.
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