In 1998, 85,055 infants were born to Indiana residents. The number of births increased
each year between 1994 (82,522) and 1998 (85,055).
Of the 85,055 infants of Indiana residents in 1998, 82,522 were single births, 2,410
were twins, 115 were triplets, and 8 were quadruplets. (NOTE: See definition of
"multiple births" in the glossary.)
During 1998, 43,316 (50.9%) of the infants were male and 41,735 (49.1%) were female,
resulting in a sex ratio of 1,038 males per every 1,000 females.
In 1998, there were 11,730 live births to mothers under 20 years of age -- 13.8% of the
total number of live births. Of these, 9,253 were born to white women under age 20 (12.4%
of the white births) and 2,355 were born to black women under age 20 (25.6% of the black
births).
For a large majority of births both the mother and father were white (76.6%). Both the
mother and father were black for 5.9% of births. For 13.6% of births, the race of the
father was not reported.
The age-specific rate for women age 15-19 was slightly lower in 1998 (53.2) than in 1997
(54.1).
The 1998 general fertility rate (GFR) was 64.2 births per 1,000 women 15-44 years old
with a 1997 GFR of 62.8 per 1,000 women 15-44 years old.
In 1998, the total fertility rate (TFR) was 2,019 for all races combined. This rate is
3.9% below the theoretical replacement level rate of 2,100. The TFRs for white and black
women were 1,985 and 2,260 respectively.
The proportion of liveborn infants classified as low birth weight (LBW; less than 2,500
grams or 5 lb. 8 oz) increased from 6.6% in 1988 to 7.9% in 1998. Infants born to black
mothers were almost twice as likely to be LBW (13.5%) as infants born to white mothers
(7.2%).
Slightly more than 1% of all liveborn infants were classified as very low birth weight
(VLBW; less than 1,500 grams or 3 lb. 5 oz). Infants born to black mothers were more than
twice as likely to weigh less than 1,500 grams (3.0%) than were infants born to white
mothers (1.2%).
In Indiana, almost one quarter (21.3%) of women who gave birth in 1998 reported smoking
during their pregnancy, compared with only 13.2% nationwide in 1997. White mothers (22.1%)
were more likely than black mothers (16.3%) to report smoking during pregnancy.
Statewide, 77.0% of mothers began prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy.
White mothers were more likely to have early prenatal care (78.7%) than were black mothers
(63.3%).
Slightly over one-third (33.6%) of all live births in Indiana in 1998 were to unmarried
parents. Significantly more black mothers (77.3%) than white mothers (28.4%) were not
married to the infant’s father at the time of the birth.
More than half (55.9%) of women who gave birth in 1998 were breastfeeding their infant
when they were discharged from the hospital. White mothers were more likely than black
mothers to be breastfeeding at discharge (58.0% and 36.6%, respectively).
INDUCED TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY REPORT
There were 12,433 terminated pregnancies reported in Indiana in 1998.
Of the 12,433 women who had a pregnancy terminated, 11,983 (96%) were Indiana residents.
7,595 (61%) of the women were white, 3,093 (24.9%) were black, 235 (1.9%) were of
"other" races, and 1,520 (12.2%) were of unknown race (Indiana occurrences).
9,093 (73.1%) of the women who had a pregnancy terminated were not married and 1,793
(14.4%) were married. Marital status was unknown for 1,557 (12.5%) of the women who had a
terminated pregnancy (Indiana occurrences).
35.2% (4,376) of the women terminating a pregnancy were 20-24 years, 21.6% (2,687) were
25-29 years, 13.6% (1,687) were 18-19 years, and 11.7% (1,456) were 30-34 years of age.
Less than 1% (86) were under the age of 15, 6.4% (794) were 15-17 years of age, 7.4% (927)
were 35-39 years of age and 2.4% (294) were age 40 or more (Indiana occurrences). Age was
unknown for 1.1% (136).
In 1998, 11,850 (95.2%) of the terminations were performed in clinics; 593 (4.8%) were
performed in hospitals (Indiana occurrences).
MARRIAGE REPORT
There were 47,254 marriages performed in the state in 1998.
The most frequent months for marriages were June (12.3%), August (11.2%), and July
(10.5%).
More marriages occurred on Saturday (60.4%) than on any other day of the week. However,
civil marriages were more likely to occur on Friday, while religious marriages were more
likely to occur on Saturday.
The average age at marriage for brides and grooms who had never been married before wsas
24.2 and 26.2 years, respectively.
Only 47% of marriages were first marriages for both the bride and the groom.
Approximately 26% of marriages were subsequent to a divorce for both the bride and the
groom. In another 25% of marriages, one or the other participant had been previously
divorced. In 5% of marriages, the bride, the groom, or both had been previously widowed.
Approximately 11% of marriages were second marriages for both the bride and the groom;
7.4% were first marriages for the bride and second marriages for the groom; 7.9% were
first marriages for the groom, and second marriages for the bride.