430 Clare babies born in third quarter of 2012

CLARE had a slightly lower birth rate than the national average in the third quarter of 2012, when 430 babies were born to women with addresses in the Banner County.
The Clare birth rate at the time was 14.7 per 1,000, a little lower than the average for the State of 15.7. It was marginally lower than the Munster average of 14.8 per 1,000.
Sixty-nine percent of the babies were born to married parents and 31% to unmarried. Overall, 17% of the children were born to parents who, though unmarried, share the same address.
Nine teenagers in Clare gave birth during the three-month period. Thirty-eight women aged between 20 and 24 also gave birth, 83 aged between 25 and 29, 155 aged between 30 and 34, 118 aged between 35 and 39 and 27 aged over 40.
The average age of women giving birth was 32.5 years and the average age of a woman giving birth for the first time was 30.4 years.
The average age of women giving birth, who were unmarried or not part of a civil partnership, was 28.8, while the average age of women in this bracket giving birth for the first time was 27.3 years.
A total of 165 people died in Clare during the three months. If reflected over the course of a full year, this would give Clare a death rate of 5.6 per 1,000 population.
This is lower than the State average of 6.0 and the Munster average of 6.4.
Eighty-nine of those who died in Clare were male, compared to 76 women.
Cancer was the leading cause of death, with 58 of the 165 dying as a result of the disease. Another 55 died due to diseases of the circulatory system, while 21 died due to diseases of the respiratory system. Four died due to external factors and 27 people died due to a variety of other causes. One of the 165 who died was a child aged under one year.
According to the CSO report, the average age at which women give birth is increasing. “The average age of mothers for births registered in quarter three, 2012 was 32.0 years, 0.3 years more than the corresponding figure in quarter three 2011, 0.9 years more than in quarter three 2007 and 1.4 years more than in quarter three 2003.”
It also stated that the causes of death vary among different age groups. “The leading cause of death in quarter three 2012 varied widely by age group. Among adults aged 15 to 34, external causes of death, including accidents, suicide and other ranked first. Among individuals aged 35-84, cancers were the leading cause, while for those aged 85 and older, it was diseases of the heart and arteries.”