2002 National Kids Count Report

South Carolina Slides Back to 45th Among States in Child Well-Being

South Carolina 50th in nation in infant mortality

COLUMBIA - The national 2002 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a state-by-state study of children's well-being issued by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, reveals that South Carolina ranks 45th in 2002, down from a rank of 42nd in 2001.

The report shows a mixed description of South Carolina children. Listed below are the indicators and their 1999 rank compared with the US average.

Better:

Indicator	Rank
Idle teens	24
Families with steady jobs	18
Single- parent families with children	25

 

Worse:

Indicator	Rank
Infant mortality	50
Child deaths	42
Teen deaths by accident, homicide, & suicide (15-19)	36
Low-birthweight babies	48
Teen birth rate (15-17)	42
High school dropouts (16-19)	35
Children living in poverty	36

 

The return of South Carolina's ranking from 42nd back to 45th place just ahead of Alabama, Arkansas, and New Mexico can be attributed to the distressing increase in deaths of infants, children and teens. The most dramatic was the escalation in infant mortality. For every 1,000 babies born in South Carolina, 10 died in their first year of life, thereby ranking South Carolina 50th in the nation on this measure. The national infant morality rate is 7 deaths per 1,000. If the deaths of infants, children and teens had not increased, South Carolina would have maintained its overall ranking of 42nd.

Baron Holmes, Director of South Carolina Kids Count said, "Prevention of these children's deaths is practical. And it is a moral obligation for South Carolinians to follow responsible behaviors and use practical preventive practices to protect our children."

In 1999, 236 caucasians and 328 non-caucasians died before their first birthday. The rate for Caucasians is 6.8 per 1,000 births and 16.4 per 1,000 births for non-caucasians.

LuAnn Miles, Director, Division of Perinatal Systems, SC DHEC said, "In South Carolina, too many babies are needlessly dying and these deaths are painfully high in the African American community."

Over the next year, DHEC will be focusing efforts through "SC BIBS," an initiative targeting the African-American community which bears a disproportionate number of these losses.

Terecia Wilson, Director of the Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Office said, "The majority of auto crashes killing children and youth were preventable. Such tragedies could be prevented for children through the proper use of seat belts and child restraint devices and by cyclists wearing helmets; for teens, by obeying the posted speed limits and obeying the minimum 21 age drinking law."

In 1999, children aged 19 and under represented 17% of the total traffic fatalities reported in the state. During the same year, one of every 7 male drivers was involved in a reportable crash doubled that of the general driving population which involved one of every 14 licensed drivers. For teens, the leading cause of fatal crashes was speed. The second leading cause of fatal crashes was driving under the influence.
 

South Carolina Data

2002 South Carolina Indicators
 

Contact

For information on Kids Count indicators:
Baron Holmes, Ph.D.
803-898-9928