6

INTRODUCTION

I N T R O D U C T I O N

months of pregnancy) went up for the ninth

of preventive health benefits for both mother

Early childhood is a critical time in chil-

consecutive year, with nearly 83 percent of

and child. The benefits of breastfeeding

dren's physical, emotional, and intellectual

women receiving care in the first trimester.

include prevention of diarrhea and infections

development, a time when children's environ-

However, this percentage is significantly lower

in infants, as well as long-term preventive

ment can have the greatest influence on their

for minority women; only 73 percent of

effects for the mother, including earlier return

future success. In addition to the effect of

African-American mothers and 74 percent of

to pre-pregnancy weight and reduced risk of

positive relationships with parents and care-

Hispanic mothers received early care. African-

premenopausal breast cancer and osteoporosis.

givers and the influence of early childhood

American and Hispanic women are also more

In 1998, more than 64 percent of mothers

education on the social and intellectual devel-

likely to begin care late in pregnancy or to

reported breastfeeding their babies right after

opment of children, many important steps

deliver with no prenatal care at all.

delivery, the highest rate in recent years.

taken before and soon after birth can greatly

Young mothers are particularly likely to

However, rates of breastfeeding decline dra-

influence children's health and physical devel-

enter prenatal care late in pregnancy, and the

matically after the initial months of life, and

opment. These include early and adequate pre-

children of teenage mothers are more likely to

only 29 percent report that they are still breast-

natal care, breastfeeding, and immunization.

face economic, health, and developmental chal-

feeding their infants at 6 months of age. These

Fortunately, the United States has seen

lenges. Another area in which we have seen

rates are even lower among African-American

progress in recent years in many of these areas.

progress, is in the rate of births to adolescent

women and young mothers; 45 percent of

However, many threats to the lives and health

women. In 1998, the birth rate among adoles-

African-American women report breastfeeding

of young children (as well as older children and

cents was 51 births per 1,000 women aged 15-

in the hospital, and only 19 percent breastfed at

adolescents) remain, and significant effort is

19, the lowest rate reported since 1987.

6 months.

still needed to assure the healthy development

However, again, teen birth rates are much high-

An early indicator of the health of infants

of America's children.

er within minority groups: for African-

is their birth weight. Babies born at low birth

One of the earliest steps we can take for

Americans, the adolescent birth rate in 1998

weight (less than 2500 grams, or 5.5 pounds)

children's health is to assure that pregnant

was 85 births per 1,000 women 15-19, and for

are most susceptible to physical disabilities,

women have access to prenatal care early in

Hispanics, the rate was 94 births per 1,000

developmental delays, and infant death.

pregnancy and that they receive appropriate

women.

Despite improvements in the use of prental

care throughout pregnancy. In 1998, the per-

Breastfeeding is another important contrib-

care, the rate of low birth weight has actually

centage of births to women who received early

utor to the health of young children, and rates

risen in recent years; the rate reported in 1998

prenatal care (beginning in the first three

of breastfeeding have also shown improve-

was 7.6 percent of all live births, which is sim-

ment in recent years. Breast milk has a number

ilar to the rates seen thirty years ago. However,

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