KDHE RELEASES ANNUAL SUMMARY OF VITAL STATISTICS

The 2004 Annual Summary of Kansas Vital Statistics is the latest edition of a report released by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). It serves as the baseline document to assess the health of Kansans. The report is used by the department's program managers and epidemiologists for targeted studies and is used by the public, policy makers, and by federal, state, and local governments for more specialized evaluations.

The tables and charts contained in this report represent a portion of the insight that can be gained from the data reported and recorded on births, stillbirths, deaths, marriages, marriage dissolutions (divorce and annulment), and abortions. Analysis of trend data, county data, and a comparison of Kansas to the nation are included in this report. Some of the highlights from the report include:

• While the state's birth rate was 14.5 births per 1,000 population, three adjacent southwest Kansas counties (Seward, Finney, Haskell) had the highest county birth rates (with a rate over 20).
• While the Kansas infant death rate (7.2) increased 7.5 percent, the African American infant death rate (16.7) increased 15.2 percent and continues to be over two times higher than the rate (6.5) for whites.
• Out-of-wedlock births (primarily to 15-24 year old mothers) followed national trends increasing to a record high of 32.6 percent of all live births.
• Teen pregnancy rates continue to decline. The pregnancy rate for females ages 10-19 decreased 24.3 percent from 34.5 pregnancies per 1,000 in 1995 to 26.1 in 2004. Among major population groups, Hispanic teens exhibit the highest pregnancy rate (51.0).
• Almost half of the abortions performed in Kansas occurred to non-Kansans. Slightly more than half of the Kansans seeking abortions were 15-24 years old.
• Cancer and heart disease account for almost half of the deaths in 2004. However, unintentional injuries remain the leading cause of death for Kansans 1-44 years of age.
• Kansans are continuing to delay marriage. The percentage of Kansans under age 20 getting married has decreased 25.2 percent for brides and 26.1 percent for grooms since 1995.
• Two out of every five marriages ending in divorce or annulment lasted four years or less.
• Between 2000 and 2004, 79 of Kansas' 105 counties experienced a loss in population.

The 2004 Annual Summary is available in a PDF format at http://www.kdheks.gov/ches/index.html. Requests for single, printed copies of the Annual Summary of Vital Statistics should be made to the KDHE, Center for Health and Environmental Statistics, Office of Health Care Information at 785-296-8627.

(Note to reporters: A table containing selected vital statistics is attached).

Selected Vital Event Rates
& Ratios, Kansas, 2003-2004

Residence data presented for births and deaths. Occurrence data
presented for marriages, and marriage dissolutions.

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