02 Dec 17 States Have More White Deaths Than Births

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Rogelio Saenz

Rogelio Saenz PhD
Dean, College of Public Policy
University of Texas at San Antonio
Senior Fellow

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: My colleague, Kenneth M. Johnson, and I conducted research based on mortality and birth data from the Center for Disease Control. These data allow us to assess natural decrease, i.e., greater number of deaths compared to births. We find that 17 states had more white deaths than white births in 2014, the most historically, compared to only four in 2004. We find that the 17 states with white natural decrease tend to have relatively high percentages of their populations being elderly (65 and older), low proportions of women being in childbearing ages (15-44), and relatively low fertility rates.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Despite the growing number (17) of states that experienced white natural decline, only two states (West Virginia and Maine) experienced natural decline in their total populations. This is because groups of color, especially Latinos, have more births than deaths, more than offsetting the natural decline of the white population. This demographic pattern contributes to the growing diversity in the country. West Virginia and Maine, the two states with more deaths than births in the total population, have very small minority populations.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: The findings have important policy implications given on the one hand the growing elderly population, disproportionately white, associated with the aging of baby boomers and, on the other hand, the growing youth population, disproportionately of color. An aging population requires health services while a young population requires education and training.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

White Deaths Exceed Births in One-Third of U.S. States
November 29, 2016
By: Rogelio Saenz, Kenneth M. Johnson

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

More Medical Research Interviews on MedicalResearch.com

[wysija_form id=”5″]

Last Updated on December 2, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD