U.S. BIRTHS: STUDY SHOWS DECLINE IN UNWED, TEEN BIRTHS

      The birth rate for unmarried women fell for the first time
 in almost 20 years, according to a Centers for Disease Control
 and Prevention (CDC) study "of the nation's health that also
 found improvements in infant mortality, prenatal care and life
 expectancy."  WASHINGTON POST reports that the four percent
 decline in "the out-of-wedlock birth rate last year represents a
 marked shift in a figure that has proved stubbornly resistant to
 improvement and that has come to exemplify the wider breakdown of
 the traditional family structure" (Havemann, 10/5).  WASHINGTON
 TIMES reports that while the reasons for the decline in the birth
 rate are unknown, credit has been tentatively given "to
 everything from improved expertise with contraceptives to the
 stern anti-illegitimacy messages of the welfare reform debate"
 (Wetzstein, 10/6).  
      OTHER FINDINGS:  The study also found that the nation's
 infant mortality rate reached an all-time low.  In 1994, eight
 out of every 1,000 babies died within their first year of life. 
 In 1995, the number declined to 7.5 deaths per 1,000 births.  The
 study also found that life expectancy increased to 75.8 years,
 the same rate as 1992.  And the percentage of women receiving
 prenatal care increased from 80.2% to 81.2% (POST, 10/5).  The C-
 section rate declined for the sixth consecutive year in a row to
 20.8% of all live births.  In addition, for the first time the
 HIV/AIDS percentage death rate did not increase from the previous
 year.  Despite this plateau, the gross number of AIDS deaths
 increased from 42,114 in 1994 to approximately 42,500 in 1995
 (CDC release, 10/4).
      THE BIRTH RATE NUMBERS:  The study found that the birth rate
 for unmarried women dropped four percent to 44.9 births per
 1,000, "the first decline since 1976."  The birth rate for
 teenagers between 15 and 19 fell three percent to 56.9 live
 births per 1,000, marking the fourth year in a row that the
 teenage pregnancy rate has declined.  The largest decrease in
 teenage birth rates was among black teens, who had 95.5 births
 per 1,000, a nine percent decline (Zaldivar, MIAMI HERALD, 10/5). 
 However, according to analysts, "about half of the decline in the
 out-of-wedlock birth rate stemmed from changes in reporting
 births in California, so that children whose parents had
 different surnames were no longer automatically considered to
 have been born out of wedlock."  As a result, fewer infants born
 to California's large Hispanic population were counted as
 illegitimate.  Even with this revision, however, NEW YORK TIMES
 reports that analysts still said the drop was "significant"
 (Holmes, 10/5).
      POLITICAL ARENA:  POST reports that both Democrats and
 Republicans "immediately lauded the numbers and began jockeying
 for political credit" (10/5).  In his weekly radio address,
 President Clinton said, "For far too long, many Americans
 believed there was nothing we could do about our most vexing
 social problems ... but now it's different.  Americans are
 standing up for our values ... and we are making responsibility a
 way of life."  However, Christina Martin, press secretary for GOP
 presidential nominee Bob Dole, said, "If Clinton is taking credit
 for reducing teen pregnancy, then he must also accept blame for
 the massive increase in teen drug use under his watch."  Rep.
 Clay Shaw (R-FL) said that he expects teen pregnancy and out-of-
 wedlock births to continue to decline after welfare reform is
 implemented.  He said, "This drop in out-of-wedlock births is
 small and helpful, but our nation hasn't seen anything yet"
 (HERALD, 10/5).