North Carolina Leads Nation in Birth Rate, But Fails in Keeping Children Alive, Aug. 8, 1925

Again Leads in Birth Rate

Figures contained in the Health Bulletin, issued by the State Board of Health, show that in 1924 North Carolina again led the nation with its birth rate, while its death rate was the same as that for the registration area. The birth rate for the State was 31.6 per thousand of population, and the death rate 11.9.

There is one phase of the repot that should get careful study—the infant mortality rate. We are leading the nation in bringing children into the world, but we are allowing too many to die. However, the report notes that the increase in infant mortality rate occurred in the rural districts. The rate for 1923 was 76.8 as compared with the rate for the rural districts of the registration are of 77.4.

In 1924 the rate for the rural districts of the State moved up to 79.8, an increase of two per thousand, while the rate for the rural districts of the registration area dropped to 71.0, a decrease of 6.4 per thousand. On the other hand, the urban rate of the State dropped, the rate for 1924 being 100.7 against 109.5 for 1923, a decrease of 8.8 per thousand. The rate for the urban districts of the registration area dropped from 77.9 in 1923 to 72.8 in 1924, a decrease of 5.1 per thousand.

Among the 14 cities of the State with population of 10,000 or over, Gastonia led with the highest birth rate, 41.0, with New Bern having the lowest, 24.4. The same relative standing occurred in 1923. Gastonia and Salisbury divide honors for the lowest death rate, 10.7, rate considerably under that for the State. Salisbury was the lowest in 1923 with High Point second. The highest rate is 24.0 for Asheville, Raleigh being second with a rate of 20.7. It should be noted that the rate for Asheville is materially affected by the large population in tuberculosis sanatoriums there, composed almost altogether of non-residents. The rate for Raleigh is also adversely affected by the location of two large State institutions, the inmates of which are non-residents. Salisbury for 1924 achieves the lowest infant mortality rate, 61.5, taking first place held by High Point in 1923. Twelve of the 14 cities obtained a reduction in infant mortality for the year. High Point showed an increase of 69.6 to 93.4, and Wilmington an increase from 90.2 to 128.2.

From the editorial page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Aug. 8, 1925, J.B. Sherrill, editor and publisher, and ? M. Sherrill, associate editor.

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-08-08/ed-1/seq-4/