20.6% of Women Giving Birth in California Have Little or No English Proficiency
California leads the nation in language barriers among women giving birth, with 20.6% of women giving birth in California hospitals not speaking English or not speaking it well, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the Modesto Bee reports.
According to the survey, the national average for maternity language barrier is 8.2%. Texas and Arizona have the second-highest maternity language barrier rate with 14.4% each.
The survey also shows that one-third of women giving birth in California are not citizens, the Bee reports (Moran, Modesto Bee, 10/15). The survey is available online.