Hispanic babies born at greater rate than other groups

Tom Polansek:

Elgin continued to follow a national trend in 2005 as Sherman Hospital delivered the largest percentage of Hispanic babies in its history.

Of 2,429 babies born at Sherman so far this year, 58.2 percent were Hispanic, a hospital spokesman said. That compares with 56.1 percent in 2004 and 55.3 percent in 2003.

"The direction is up," spokesman Josh McColough said.

The news is not unexpected. Nationally, the birth rate among Hispanics traditionally has stayed above that of other ethnic groups.

Furthermore, Jaime Garcia, interim director of Centro de Informacion, said it was natural for the number of Hispanic babies to increase locally as the Hispanic population grows. Centro provides Hispanics with immigration advice, parenting classes and other programs

"This is not surprising to me," Garcia said about the latest data.

As for the rest of the babies born at Sherman this year, 31.3 percent were Caucasian, 4.9 percent were black, 1.8 percent were Asian and 3.
8 percent fell into other ethnic groups.

In 2004, McColough said 33.1 percent of babies born at Sherman were Caucasian, 4.1 percent were black and 2.7 percent were Asian. In 2003, 33 percent were Caucasian, 4.3 percent were black and 2.6 percent were Asian.

McColough said the data was based on information collected from mothers when they registered at the hospital.

Figures were not immediately available on births at Provena St. Joseph Hospital so far this year.

Nationally, however, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has collected data that mirrors the evolution of Sherman's numbers. According to the CDC, Hispanics have maintained a higher birth rate than other ethnic groups over the past several years.

In 2003 and 2004, for example, 22.9 Hispanic babies were born for every 1,000 Hispanic people.

That compares to a birth rate of 11.7 babies per 1,000 Caucasians in 2004 and 11.8 babies in 2003. There were 15.1 black babies born for every 1,000 black people in 2004 and 15.9 in 2003.

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