Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
U.S. Twin Birth Rate At Lowest Level In Decade, Reducing Risks To Mothers, Their Fetuses, Health Officials Say
For the first time in nearly 40 years, the twin birth rate in the U.S. is on the decline. According to a data brief published Thursday from the National Center for Health Statistics, twin births declined in the U.S. by 4% from 2014 to 2018. The decline follows decades of steady growth which began in the 1980s and lasted through the early 2000s. (Vaughn, 10/3)
鈥淚t is difficult to know for sure from the data in the NCHS report what the recent drop is linked to. However, given that declines are concentrated among older mothers, some would argue that changes in reproductive technology are likely playing a role,鈥 said Gretchen Livingston, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center who is an expert on fertility and family demographics. (Eunjung Cha, 10/3)
Researchers say the decline may reflect advances in reproductive technologies that improved the likelihood of single births. Having twins heightens health risks for both the babies and the mother, so specialists see the decline as good news. (Abbott, 10/3)
