Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 5 - Health Planning
Chapter 103 - Overview of the State
Subchapter B - Population Description
Section I-10307 - Demographic Characteristics

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code I-10307

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. Rural vs. Urban

1. In the last five years Louisiana has become an urban state. Eight geographic areas now meet the definition of a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The MSA's in Louisiana are listed in Figure 3.3.

Figure 3.3

MSA

Parish

New Orleans-Orleans

Jefferson

St. Tammany

St. Bernard

St. John

St.Charles

Baton Rouge-East Baton Rouge

W. Baton Rouge

Livingston

Ascension

Shreveport-Caddo

Bossier

Lafayette-Lafayette

St. Martin

Houma-Thibodaux

Terrebonne

Lafourche

Lake Charles-Calcasieu

Monroe-Quachita

Alexandria-Rapides

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census current Population Report (P-26 No 82-18-C, April 1984)

2. Forty-five parishes meet the definition of rural. (See Figure 3.1). However, approximately 70 percent of the state's population reside in the state's eight MSA's according to 1985 estimates prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Census. The urban vs rural factor is important in health planning. Attempts must be made to assure that adequate emergency and primary health care services are available to residents of sparsely populated areas, while maintaining a cost effective and high quality health care system.

B. Per Capita Income

1. In 1983, Louisianians had a total personal income of nearly $45 billion dollars compared to $30.5 billion in 1979. While some areas of the state, particularly the southeastern portion of the state, experienced economic growth in the years between 1979 and 1983, Louisiana's per capita income remains far below the national average (see table 3.2).

2. In 1979, Louisiana's per capita income was 13.3 percent below that of the nation. In 1983, Louisiana's per capita income rose to $10,262 with the national average at $11,700. Thus, the difference in Louisiana's per capita income and that of the nation decreased to 12.3 percent in 1983.

3. According to the Division of Business Research at Louisiana State University the overall outlook suggests that the Louisiana economy will be restrained until the latter half of 1986. The State's unemployment rate of 13 percent is well above the national unemployment rate of 7 percent (Louisiana Labor Market Information, March 1986).

4. In 37 of the 64 parishes the per capita income is less than 75 percent of the national average. The poorer parishes are concentrated in the central and northern areas of the state. The parishes of the Cenla District have the lowest per capita income in the state with a per capita income of $7,789.

5. There are, however, five parishes that exceed the national average in per capita income: Lafayette, Jefferson, St. Charles, East Baton Rouge and St. Tammany (see Table 3.2).

Table 3.2

Per Capita Personal Income By District And Parish 1983

Louisiana

$10,262

U.S.

$11,700

Planning District

1. New Orleans

$11,675

6. Cenla

$ 7,789

Jefferson

12,449

776 miles

6,544

Orleans

11,271

Catahoula

6,980

Plaquemines

10,430

Concordia

8,766

St. Bernard

10,772

Grant

6,993

St. Charles

11,982

LaSalle

7,088

St. John

10,119

Natchitoches

7,498

Rapides

8,609

2. Capital

$10,750

Vernon

7,360

Ascension

10,041

Winn

7,099

EBR

11,993

E. Feliciana

7,398

7. Northwest

$10,133

Iberville

9,059

Bienvilie

8,376

Livingston

8,635

Bossier

9,639

Point Coupee

8,861

Caddo

11,370

St. Helena

6,338

Claiborne

8,589

WBR

9,331

DeSoto

8,660

W. Feliciana

6,252

Red River

7,054

Sabine

5,933

3. Bayou

$10,122

Webster

9,289

Assumption

8,327

Lafourche

9,943

8. Northeast

$ 8,246

St. James

10,663

Caldwell

6,930

St. Mary

10,658

E. Carroll

6,853

Terrebonne

10,230

Franklin

6,396

Jackson

8,547

4. Acadiana

$ 9,313

Lincoln

8,971

Acadia

8,551

Madison

5,668

Evangeline

7,343

More House

7,828

Iberia

10,925

Ouachita

9,300

Lafayette

13,399

Richland

7,722

St. Landry

7,650

Tensas

7,242

St. Martin

8,116

Union

8,013

Vermilion

9,817

W. Carroll

6,105

5. Southwest

$ 9,749

9. Northshore

$ 9,676

Allen

6,950

St. Tammany

11,744

Beauregard

7,910

Tangipahoa

7,479

Calcasieu

10,679

Washington

8,035

Cameron

10,487

Jeff Davis

8,197

Source: "Survey of Current Business" April 1985: 52 Estimates of the Population of Louisiana Parishes, 1983, Bureau of the Census.

C. Poverty and Income Supports

1. Even though personal income in a few areas exceeds the national average, the state has a large population of low income residents who do not have sufficient income to meet the basic personal needs of household members. The extent to which this is true is revealed by data on the utilization of income support programs provided by the Offices of Family Security, Management and Finance, and Human Development. According to information obtained from these sources, approximately 230,672 of the state's 4,527,545 citizens received income assistance from the state in 1985 through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, at a cost of $12,970,920. State supplementation of the Federal Supplemental Security Income Program was paid to 8,046 persons at a cost of $76,293. Viet Nam and Cambodian Refugee Assistance was paid to 277 persons at a cost of $16,533. In 1985, 698 persons received general assistance at a cost of $61,757. Disaster Assistance to 1,492 persons cost the state $5,614,208 in 1985. The State Foster Care Program, including certified foster families, residential care and relative placements, served 5,603 persons in 1985 at a cost of $14,894,265. The total number of individuals supported totally or in part by these income maintenance programs in 1985 was over 246,000 or over 5 percent of the population. This does not include persons receiving employment related benefits, such as unemployment compensation or employee disability.

2. Recipients of income maintenance payments are also certified for Medicaid (Title XIX) benefits. In addition, the state provided Medicaid benefits to individuals found eligible for medical assistance on the basis of incurred medical costs which exceeded their resources (Medically Needy Program). In 1984, 316,581 individuals received benefits under the Medicaid program at a cost of $708,071,316.

3. Another income supplement program that is highly utilized by the citizens of the state is the Food Stamp Program. In 1985, approximately 215,442 households and 659,058 persons received food stamps at a cost of $32,125,082.

4. There is a large number of individuals at or below the poverty level who receive no benefits from income support programs. According to the Division of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Research Bureau's 1984 Report, there are 216,405 families in Louisiana with incomes at or below the poverty level. Therefore, 19 percent of all Louisiana families have incomes at or below the poverty level, while 11.7 percent of all families in the U.S. have incomes at or below this level. Of the families in Louisiana with incomes at or below the poverty level, only 33.6 percent receive AFDC according to DPPE statistics. In looking at the U.S. as a whole, 51.5 percent of the families in poverty receive AFDC. These figures indicate that Louisiana has a significantly greater percentage of families with incomes at or below the poverty level than does the nation. However, the state provides income support to 18 percent fewer of its poor than does the nation.

5. Poverty areas are defined by the Bureau of Census as a census tract, a census parish division or a minor civil division in which 20 percent or more of the Poverty areas have incomes below the poverty level. Table 3.3 shows the proportions of parishes in which the percent of families with income less than poverty level exceeds 20.0 percent. There are 25 such parishes, according to 1980 census data.

Table 3.3

Proportion of Parishes in Which the Percent of Families with Income Less Than Poverty Level Exceeds 20.0x (1980)

Louisiana

Planning Districts

1. New Orleans

1/6

6. Cenla

5/9

Jefferson

7.8%

Avoyelles

25.6%

Orleans

21.8%

Catahoula

25.8%

Plaquemines

12.2%

Concordia

21.7%

St. Bernard

7.4%

Grant

18.3%

St. Charles

11.9%

LaSalle

17.2%

St. John

12.1%

Natchitoches

21.8%

Rapides

15.4%

2. Capital 3/9

Vernon

15.8%

Ascension

12.4%

Winn

21.6%

EBR

11.7%

E. Feliciana

17.7%

7. Northwest

4/8

Iberville

18.7%

Bienville

20.9%

Livingston

11.3%

Bossier

10.2%

Point Coupee

23.1%

Caddo

13.1%

St. Helena

28.2%

Claiborne

20.9%

WBR

15.6%

DeSoto

20.3%

W. Feliciana

27.7%

Red River

22.8%

Sabine

18.9%

Webster

15.6%

3. Bayou

0/5

Assumption

17.7%

Lafourche

11.0%

8. Northeast

8/12

St. James

14.5%

Caldwell

21%

St. Mary

12.6%

E. Carroll

34.5%

Terrebonne

11.4%

Franklin

25.3%

4. Acadiana

2/7

Jackson

18.9%

Acadia

18.6%

Lincoln

14.7%

Evangeline

25.8%

Madison

32.9%

Iberia

11.8%

More House

25.8%

Lafayette

10.0%

Ouachita

16.2%

St. Landry

23.1%

Richland

28.6%

St. Martin

16.9%

Tensas

34.0%

Vermilion

14.1%

Union

17.5%

5. Southwest

0/5

West Carroll

29.5%

Allen

19.0%

9. Northshore

2/3

Beauregard

14.0%

St. Tammany

10.3%

Calcasieu

10.0%

Tangipahoa

21.4%

Cameron

11.0%

Washington

21.0%

Jeff Davis

15.3%

Source: Bureau of The Census General Social and Economic Characteristics Table 181

6. The Northeast district (district eight) appears to have the largest percent of residents with incomes at or below the poverty level. More than 20 percent of the families have incomes that are less than the poverty level in eight out of the 12 parishes composing this district.

7. Poverty levels are important indicators for health planning purposes, since low income persons are usually not able to participate in the mainstream of the health care system. Lower socio-economic status is also correlated with higher incidences of disease and higher mortality rates. It is clear that there is a significant portion of Louisiana residents whose participation in the health care system is directly related to the availability of state or federally supported health care programs.

D. Age

1. The number of persons in the general population in specific age groups is important to health planning. Certain age groups are more likely than others to need certain types of health services (e.g., those over 65 years of age, infants and children), while some health services are needed exclusively by defined age groups (neonatal units and obstetrical services).

2. The 1980 Louisiana population by age is presented in Table 3.4. It is essential to identify the number of individuals age 65 and older in a population because of this group's significantly higher utilization of health care resources. The number of persons age 65 and over is represented in Table 3.5 broken down by district. Table 3.6 provides population projections for 1990 for the 65 + age group.

3. In 1980 11.3 percent of the U.S. population was 65 years of age or older. The 1980 Louisiana population of 65 + was 9.6 percent. However there are areas in Louisiana where the proportion of older people exceeds the national average.

4. In 1970 9.9 percent of the U.S. population was 65 years of age or older. This is an important benchmark, as this percentage was the basis, in part, for the establishment of the commonly accepted hospital bed need standard of 4 beds per 1,000 population. For that reason, in this planning document 9.9 percent of the population age 65 + is accepted as a standard against which the aged population in the State is evaluated. Where the population of persons age 65 + is more than 9.9 percent, those institutional health care services utilized heavily by this age group should be available in appropriately larger numbers.

5. As can be seen in Table 3.5, there are three planning districts with populations of persons age 65 + which exceed 9.9 percent, the Cenla, Northwest, and Northeast Districts. It is necessary that health planners and providers of health services give special consideration to the needs of the aged population in the three planning districts, where older people represent a disproportionately large segment of the population.

6. Another segment of the population requiring special attention by persons planning for and providing health services is that made up of children and youth between the ages of birth and 14 years. This age group requires substantially more primary care services than the 15-64 age group, in the form of periodic and developmental examinations, immunizations, and diagnostic and treatment services for relatively frequent episodes of acute illness and developmental problems.

7. According to 1980 census data, the Louisiana population under age 15 represents 25.7 percent of the overall population. This compares to the 1980 national average of 22.64 percent of the population 14 and under. The national average of persons under 15 was 28.49 percent in 1970, while the Louisiana average was 31.76 percent. The declining numbers of individuals in the age group under 15 years is reflective of the declining birth rate.

8. The Louisiana population under 15 years declined at a slightly faster rate (.25 percent) than in the U.S. as a whole during the decade 19701980. Even so, Louisiana still exceeds the U.S. by 3 percent in proportion of persons under 15 years of age. The number of Louisiana residents under 15 declined 6.6 percent between 1970 and 1980.

Table 3.4

Population By Age Group

1970

1980

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Total

3,644,637

100.0

4,205,971

100.0

Under 15

1,156,439

31.8

1,079,462

25.7

15-64

2,179,491

59.8

2,722,230

64.7

65 or older

307,707

8.4

404,279

9.6

Median Age

24

27.4

Source: Population Projections for 1985 and 1990:Vincent Maruggi and Paul Fletes UNO - June 1983

Table 3.5

Estimated Population 65 Years and Older, and Its Percentage within the Population

1980 Population 65 years and older

1980 Census Population

% of Persons 65 years and older

Louisiana

404,279

4,205,971

9.6

Planning Districts

1. New Orleans

108,009

1,171,436

9.2

2. Capital

44,936

591,384

7.6

3. Bayou

20,396

284,708

7.2

4. Acadiana

43,651

476,339

9.2

5. Southwest

24,468

259,809

9.4

6. Cenla

39,619

356,241

11.1

7. Northwest

56,382

471,632

12.0

8. Northeast

44,737

358,578

12.5

9. Northshore

22,081

235,774

9.4

SOURCE: Population Projections for 1985 and 1990: Vincent Maruggi and Paul FletesUNO - June 1983

Table 3.6

Interim Projections of Population Aged 65 and Over

1980

1985

1990

Louisiana

404,279

441,235

472,049

Planning Districts

1. New Orleans

108,009

120,847

133,971

2. Capital

44,937

49,615

54,586

3. Bayou

20,396

22,896

25,266

4. Acadiana

43,651

47,366

49,711

5. Southwest

24,468

27,146

29,366

6. Cenla

39,619

41,912

42,788

7. Northwest

56,382

59,351

61,191

8. Northeast

44,737

46,744

46,980

9. Northshore

22,081

25,358

28,190

SOURCE: Population Projection for 1985 and 1990: Vincent Maruggi and Paul Fletes UNO - June 1983

Table 3.6

Interim Projections of Population Aged 65 and Over Louisiana 1980-1985

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

Louisiana

403,939

410,354

416,770

423,185

429,600

436,020

HSA I (1,3)

132,313

134,719

137,125

139,531

141,937

144,344

HSA II (2,4,5)

132,240

134,799

137,358

139,917

142,476

145,041

HSA 111(6,7,8)

139,386

140,836

142,287

143,737

145,187

116,635

Planning Districts

1. New Orleans

112,065

113,984

115,903

117,822

119,741

121,659

2. Capital

59,862

61,184

62,506

63,828

65,150

66,469

3. Bayou

20,248

20,735

21,222

21,709

22,196

22,685

4. Acadiana

48,076

48,918

49,760

50,602

51,444

52,293

5. Southwest

24,302

24,697

25,092

25,487

25,882

26,279

6. Cenla

33,915

34,344

34,773

35,202

35,631

36,059

7. Northwest

66,907

67,642

68,377

69,112

69,846

70,585

8. Northeast

38,564

38,850

39,137

39,423

39,710

39,991

SOURCE: Computed from Louisiana State Planning Office projections for 1980 and 1985

9. These statistics suggest a need to improve quality in health care services for the under 15 age group and to identify previously unmet health needs, such as those of primary care for this segment of the population in poor and/or rural areas of the state. Poverty and lack of accessibility to health care services are known to increase the risk of poor health. With declining numbers of children in rural areas, there is a need to develop innovative and cost effective means of delivering primary health services to this increasingly isolated, high risk age group in rural areas.

E. Race

1. Another characteristic of a population which is important for health planners is its ethnic composition. It has been observed that non-whites in the population are at greater risk for poorer health than whites. Trends Affecting the U.S. Health Care System, prepared by Cambridge Research Institute, January, 1976. The degree to which this factor is interrelated with other risk factors such as lower socio-economic status, living in areas of high population density, living in rural areas and high birth rate is not established. Nonetheless, it is important to consider the greater need for health services among the non-white population in planning the development of health system resources.

2. The Louisiana population by racial composition is depicted in Table 3.7. The state's population is 29.3 percent black, according to 1980 census data. The New Orleans, Northeast and Northwest Planning Districts have the largest black populations, 34.2 percent, 34.0 percent and 33.8 percent respectively.

Table 3.7

Louisiana Population by Race 1980

Total

White/Other

Black

Percent Black

Louisiana

4,205,971

2,992,676

1,233,917

29.3%

Planning Districts

1. New Orleans

1,171,436

770,681

400,755

34.2%

2. Capital

591,453

407,027

184,426

31.2%

3. Bayou

284,708

225,317

59,391

20.9%

4. Acadiana

476,339

358,861

117,478

25.7%

5. Southwest

259,809

207,716

52,093

20.1%

6. Cenla

356,241

264,358

91,883

25.8%

7. Northwest

471,633

312,230

159,403

33.8%

8. Northeast

358,578

236,860

121,718

34.0%

9. Northshore

235,774

184,310

51,464

21.8%

Table 3.7a

Louisiana Population By Race (Projections) 1990

Total

White/Other

Black

Percent Black

Louisiana

4,849,328

3,396,045

1,452,995

30.0%

Planning Districts

1. New Orleans

1,331,662

845,055

486,607

36.5%

2. Capital

721,062

495,588

225,474

31.3%

3. Bayou

331,025

263,271

67,754

20.5%

4. Acadiana

547,825

412,610

135,215

24.7%

5. Southwest

293,849

234,695

59,154

20.1%

6. Cenla

393,875

291,798

102,077

26.0%

7. Northwest

530,544

349,468

181,077

34.1%

8. Northeast

392,339

257,415

134,924

19.8%

9. Northshore

306,858

246,145

60,713

19.8%

Table 3.8

Percent Non-White Population, Louisiana, Selected States and the U.S.

1930-1980

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

Louisiana

37.3

36.1

33.1

32.1

30.2

30.8

U.S.

11.3

10.2

10.4

11.5

12.5

16.8

Alabama

35.8

34.8

31.5

30.1

26.4

26.2

Arkansas

25.8

24.8

22.5

21.9

18.6

17.3

Florida

29.5

27.2

21.9

17.9

15.8

16.0

Georgia

36.9

34.8

30.9

28.6

26.1

27.7

Mississippi

50.4

49.4

45.5

42.3

37.2

35.9

Texas

26.5

14.5

12.8

12.6

13.2

21.3

The South

25.1

24.0

21.9

20.9

19.7

21.8

3. Table 3.8 depicts the changes in the non-white population of the State as compared to the U.S. and to selected other states in the South. There was a declining proportion of non-whites in the state over the period 1930-1970. This decline leveled off and was slightly reversed in the decade between 1970 and 1980.

F. Sex

1. The composition of a population by sex, race and age is important in health planning. For example, the number of females in a population group age 15-44 provides an estimate of the need for obstetrical and neonatal services and has an indirect bearing on needed pediatric inpatient and outpatient services.

2. Table 3.9 provides 1985 statistics on the composition of the Louisiana population by age and sex compared to the U.S.

Table 3.9

Louisiana Population By Age & Sex 1980

Both Sexes

%

Male

%

Female

%

Total

4,205,971

100.0

2,039,929

48.5

2,166,042

51.5

Under 15

1,079,214

25.7

548,447

13.0

530,767

12.6

15-44

1,977,551

47.0

978,843

23.3

998,708

23.7

45-64

744,927

17.7

350,046

8.3

394,881

9.4

65 and Older

404,279

9.6

162,593

3.9

241,686

5.7

Table 3.9a

Louisiana Population by Age and Sex (Projections For 1990)

Both Sexes

%

Male

%

Female

%

Total

4,849,038

100.0

2,372,187

48.9

2,476,851

51.1

Under 15

1,244,844

25.7

632,013

13.0

611,831

12.6

15-44

2,326,326

48.0

1,171,697

24.2

1,154,629

23.8

45-64

806,809

16.6

378,742

7.8

428,067

8.8

65 and Older

472,059

9.7

189,735

3.9

282,324

5.8

Table 3.10

Louisiana and U.S. Birth Statistics

1984

Number and Percent of Births

Birth Rate Per 1000

Louisiana

U.S

LA

U.S.

Total

81,428

100

3,697,000

100

18.2

15.7

White

49,171

60.4

-

-

15.7

-

Nonwhite

32,257

39.6

-

-

24.0

-

1979

Number and Percent of Births

Birth Rate Per 1000

Louisiana

U.S

LA

U.S.

Total

74,831

100

3,333,279

100

18.9

15.3

White

45,099

60.3

2,679,956

80.4

16.3

14.2

Nonwhite

29,732

39.7

653,323

19.6

24.8

22.1

Source: Louisiana Vital Statistics Report 1984 advance Final Report, PHS - 1984 Series No 2. Nov, 1985

G. Birth Rate

1. The birth rate of any population is the most dynamic component of its growth and is indicative of the fertility of the population. This, in turn, directly affects the age composition and size of the population group. Such rates have an immediate impact on the demand for hospital obstetric services, neonatal and pediatric units, with further long-range implications on other health care services.

2. As shown in Table 3.10, the Louisiana birth rate is 18.2 per 1,000 population as calculated from the 1984 Louisiana Vital Statistics Report. This breaks down to a 15.7 per 1,000 for whites and 24.0 per 1,000 for nonwhites. This significant difference in rates is important to note since geographic areas with large percentages of non-whites have a higher utilization rate for obstetric beds and a disproportionate need for health care services related to maternal and child care. The U.S. birth rate is significantly lower than the Louisiana rate, due in part, but not completely, to a higher percentage of non-whites in the State's population.

3. Table 3.11 presents statistics depicting the Louisiana birth rate over the period 1940-1984. Since a peak of 30.6 births per 1,000 in 1954, the birth rate steadily declined until 1974, with a rate of 17.5 per 1,000. During the period between 1974 and 1979, there was an annual increase in the birth rate. However, 1980 statistics provided a break in this upward trend. Statistics for the period of 1984 indicate somewhat of a leveling off of the birth rate. Health planners and providers of obstetrical and related services will need to take special care in evaluating the birth rate during the 1987-1990 period. A continuing increase in the birth rate could find certain areas of the state seriously lacking in obstetrical services.

Table 3.11

Louisiana Live Births and Birth Rate 1940-1980

Year

Number

Rate/ 1000

Year

Number

Rate/ 1000

1940

50,623

21.4

1960

90,126

27.7

1941

54,396

22.7

1961

88,892

26.8

1942

57,912

24.3

1962

88,005

26.1

1943

60,770

25.0

1963

85,334

24.9

1944

60,260

24.6

1964

86,060

24.7

1945

57,363

23.2

1965

79,533

22.5

1946

68,549

26.9

1966

77,223

21.5

1947

74,166

28.6

1967

75,199

20.7

1948

73,104

27.7

1968

74,098

20.2

1949

75,302

28.3

1969

74,770

20.1

1950

76,108

28.4

1970

74,615

20.5

1951

80,256

29.5

1971

73,014

19.8

1952

80,046

29.1

1972

68,340

18.3

1953

84,108

30.2

1973

66,413

17.6

1954

86,225

30.6

1974

65,880

17.5

1955

86,031

30.2

1975

67,792

17.9

1956

89,333

29.1

1976

69,998

18.1

1957

90,786

29.0

1977

74,989

19.1

1958

90,175

28.3

1978

74,831

18.9

1959

90,814

27.9

1979*

78,631

19.6

1980*

81,268

19.3

SOURCES: L.S.U.N.O. Division of Business and Economic Research, Statistical Abstract of Louisiana, Sixth Edition 1977 Louisiana Department of Health and Human Resources, Louisiana Vital Statistics Report, 1976-1980 *Provisional Statistics

4. The declining birth rate of the 1960's and first half of the 1970's can be attributed to many reasons, including:
a. better and more widely available contraceptive and family planning methods;

b. an economy which requires an increasing number of women to work to provide sufficient income for the family and/or requires that the number of children be limited;

c. less restrictive abortion laws;

d. an increasing awareness of the need to restrain population growth in light of the finiteness of the earth's resources.

5. The increasing birth rate of the latter part of the 1970's is seen as a result of significant numbers of women who had postponed pregnancy until the latter part of their child-bearing years. Fluctuations in the economy also have substantial impact on the birth rate, with increased births in periods of economic recovery.

6. Although 1984 statistics indicate a reduction, Louisiana's birthrate continues to exceed the national average by 3.5 births per 1,000, according to the 1984 Louisiana Vital Statistics Report.

7. The fertility rate of a population is another means by which to analyze population growth patterns and to project health service needs. Birth rates are derived simply by averaging the number of births per 1000 general population. Fertility rates are developed by selecting only the population of females in child-bearing years, age 15-44, for analysis. This provides important information because of the variations in the numbers of females age 15-44 living in various sections of the state. "Age-race-specific fertility rates" are the number of live births per 1,000 females in the given age-race group and permit an even more accurate analysis of birth rates in a given locale.

8. Table 3.12 presents data on age-race-specific fertility rates in Louisiana and in the nine health planning districts for 1984. The fertility rate for the black population is significantly higher than the white population for all age groups, but particularly higher for females under age 20. Regions VII and VIII have the highest fertility rates in the 10-14 age group with 3.48 per 1,000 and 4.88 per 1,000 respectively. Regions VI and VII show the highest fertility rates in the 15-19 age group with 89.43 per 1,000 and 78.55 per 1,000 respectively. These statistics indicate a need to address the problems represented by teen-age pregnancies, such as the need for improved family planning and human sexuality education initiative

Table 3.12

Age-Race-Specific Fertility Rate*=of Live Births to Females in Given Age-Race Group/Total # of Females in Same Age-Race Group

Age of Mother

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44**

Louisiana

2.43

71.09

129.95

114.71

63.09

22.14

0.70

White

0.67

51.41

117.59

110.55

57.12

17.79

0.47

Black

1.68

106.53

155.09

124.26

78.24

33.99

1.35

Region I

2.07

67.15

116.02

107.00

63.14

22.94

0.71

White

0.55

39.12

91.51

99.07

56.81

19.11

0.47

Black

3.97

104.05

154.11

121.11

75.29

30.55

1.33

Region II

0.90

2.16

60.98

117.35

112.27

65.38

22.73

White

0.62

44.59

110.15

108.87

58.66

18.34

0.52

Black

4.98

89.83

131.67

119.79

81.75

34.00

1.85

Region III

2.30

0.79

74.91

136.74

120.61

55.61

23.85

White

0.94

60.32

120.48

110.69

47.85

17.35

0.67

Black

6.53

120.23

193.28

158.64

85.68

50.44

1.33

Region IV

1.87

67.04

137.50

133.57

76.16

27.16

0.78

White

0.97

53.83

131.00

129.68

70.62

21.83

0.53

Black

4.10

97.07

154.68

146.05

95.51

45.06

1.67

Region V

0.93

65.50

143.14

123.76

60.56

20.60

0.69

White

0.48

56.95

138.96

121.54

55.81

17.10

0.52

Black

2.43

93.39

157.46

131.93

80.14

36.83

1.53

Region VI

1.58

78.55

154.57

115.57

56.14

19.21

0.47

White

0.29

66.23

144.45

109.81

46.54

15.27

0.26

Black

4.65

105.91

179.10

131.30

86.55

33.72

1.18

Region VII

3.48

89.43

150.12

111.40

57.66

18.92

0.56

White

0.81

61.47

138.12

110.86

54.86

13.90

0.32

Black

7.26

127.90

169.76

112.43

63.49

30.40

1.15

Region VIII

4.88

77.90

120.21

101.93

57.58

18.22

0.65

White

0.58

51.14

110.07

97.01

47.85

14.11

0.53

Black

11.08

115.13

136.35

111.19

79.52

29.11

0.93

Region IX

3.30

70.06

139.17

132.67

68.93

21.93

0.69

White

0.87

52.20

128.50

133.93

67.52

18.68

0.62

Black

10.83

121.28

171.32

128.04

75.56

39.39

1.03

*Rate per 1000 females in same age and race group.

**40-44 rate contains all births to those 40 and older.

9. The effect of large numbers of early teen-age pregnancies on the state is seen in a variety of negative ways. Teen-age mothers are often unmarried and their children frequently must depend on the state and federal government for financial support. Illegitimate births to young teenagers also account for a disproportionate number of infants with birth defects and other difficulties associated with high risk pregnancy. Too, children of young, unwed mothers often do not receive appropriate early childhood health care and do not have access, because of poverty, to a full spectrum of health care.

10. The incidence of illegitimate births in Louisiana is depicted in Table 3.13. Of the children born in Louisiana in 1984, 26.6 percent were illegitimate. The incidence of illegitimate births was highest in North Louisiana and lowest in Central Louisiana. The incidence of illegitimacy is nine percent among whites and 54 percent among non-whites, with the highest rates seen among the non-white population of the predominantly rural, economically deprived Northwest and Northeast districts. In these areas there is an urgent need for improved family planning and health education programs among non-whites.

Table 3.13

Illegitimate Births by Place of Mother's Usual Residence and Race of Child Louisiana, 1980

Total

White

NonWhite

Illeg. Births

Ratio/1000 Live Births

Illeg. Births

Ratio/1000 Live Births

Illeg. Births

Ratio/1000 Live Births

Louisiana

19,043

234.3

3,485

70.3

15,558

490.7

HSA I (1,3)

6,992

243.8

1,175

70.3

5,817

485.9

HSA II (2,4,5)

6,232

204.4

1,442

72.1

4,790

456.8

HSA III (6,7,8)

5,819

263.3

868

67.5

4,951

535.6

1. New Orleans

5,876

265.0

899

73.5

4,977

500.7

Jefferson

1,213

147.8

406

64.5

807

422.5

Orleans

4,222

410.8

309

108.6

3,913

526.5

Plaquemines

101

175.3

38

92.5

63

381.8

St. Bernard

84

76.9

53

52.1

31

413.3

St. Tammany

256

126.6

93

55.9

163

454.0

2. Capital

3,128

225.7

489

58.5

2,639

479.9

Ascension

175

174.0

35

49.4

140

468.2

E. Baton Rouge

1,498

215.4

223

54.9

1,275

440.9

E. Feliciana

110

290.2

6

33.7

104

517.4

Iberville

240

350.4

32

102.6

208

557.6

Livingston

122

103.7

72

67.4

50

467.3

Pointe Coupee

124

262.7

7

30.0

117

489.5

St. Helena

50

340.1

2

36.4

48

521.7

Tangipahoa

483

289.0

69

74.4

414

557.2

Washington

180

221.9

26

52.7

154

484.3

W. Baton Rouge

105

251.2

14

55.3

91

551.5

W. Feliciana

41

290.8

3

42.3

38

542.9

3. Bayou

1,116

171.4

276

61.6

840

413.6

Assumption

121

251.6

15

54.2

106

519.6

Lafourche

258

152.1

83

61.2

175

516.2

St. Charles

148

208.2

28

62.1

120

461.5

St. James

111

250.6

8

41.5

103

412.0

St. John

151

198.4

15

37.5

136

376.7

Terrebonne

327

135.2

127

70.5

200

324.1

4. Acadiana

2,268

198.0

634

81.7

1,634

441.6

Acadia

236

202.4

91

103.1

145

512.4

Evangeline

122

192.7

31

72.3

91

446.1

Iberia

314

215.4

84

89.8

230

439.8

Lafayette

526

169.7

157

69.9

369

433.1

St. Landry

383

215.0

73

72.7

310

399.0

St. Martin

201

220.2

48

87.9

153

416.9

St. Mary

303

217.2

73

80.8

230

467.5

Vermilion

183

180.8

77

95.1

106

524.8

5. Southwest

836

161.9

319

82.3

517

401.7

Allen

72

184.6

33

115.0

39

378.6

Beauregard

58

108.8

36

79.2

22

278.5

Calcasieu

553

163.5

187

76.0

366

396.5

Cameron

24

130.4

18

105.9

6

428.6

Jeff Davis

129

191.1

45

88.8

84

500.0

6. Cenla

1,138

191.2

267

67.3

871

439.5

Avoyelles

155

209.7

26

53.4

129

511.9

Catahoula

48

244.9

7

56.5

41

569.4

Concordia

137

417.7

23

143.8

114

678.6

Grant

51

190.3

19

91.8

32

524.6

LaSalle

40

149.3

21

90.5

19

527.8

Rapides

537

215.0

120

74.7

417

468.0

Vernon

104

76.7

46

47.7

58

148.0

Winn

66

221.5

5

26.6

61

554.5

7. Northwest

2,730

268.8

405

71.2

2,325

520.1

Bienville

82

263.7

10

65.4

72

455.7

Bossier

254

164.6

88

75.9

166

433.4

Caddo

1,521

306.3

194

77.5

1,327

538.6

Claiborne

91

303.3

3

23.8

88

505.7

DeSoto

141

295.0

11

43.3

130

580.4

Lincoln

148

271.6

13

47.6

135

496.3

Natchitoches

178

261.4

30

79.4

148

488.4

Red River

61

306.5

8

73.4

53

588.9

Webster

179

235.8

21

46.6

158

511.3

8. Northeast

1,951

325.7

196

61.3

1,755

628.6

Caldwell

27

174.2

9

73.2

18

562.5

E. Carroll

148

575.9

3

51.7

145

728.6

Franklin

140

324.8

17

69.1

123

664.9

Jackson

84

272.7

8

41.9

76

649.6

Madison

155

563.6

4

52.6

151

758.8

Morehouse

293

405.8

18

57.1

275

675.7

Ouachita

748

282.3

93

61.4

655

576.6

Richland

160

360.4

15

66.1

145

668.2

Tensas

67

458.9

1

22.7

66

647.1

Union

78

221.6

8

38.5

70

486.1

W. Carroll

51

203.2

20

101.5

31

574.1

SOURCE: Department of Health and Human Resources, Public Health Statistics, Louisiana Vital Statistics Report, Provisional Statistics, January-December, 1980

H. Summary of Demographic Characteristics

1. All of the demographic variables which have an impact on the need for and use of health care services should be considered when evaluating the health system and status of a geographic area. Factors which create a higher than average risk of death or illness are:
a. race-non-white

b. sex-male

c. residence-rural; or in area of high population density

d. age-65 + ; neonate

e. income-at or below poverty level.

2. Since Louisiana has a higher percentage of non-whites, neonates, poor, and rural individuals than the national average, there is a need for special efforts to be directed toward meeting the health needs of those at high risk of poor health. In part, inpatient and outpatient health care services at regional, state-supported general hospitals, and at parish health units are directed toward this large segment of the population considered to be "at risk". However, other services and other ways to bring this high risk population into the mainstream of the health care system need to be developed. Underlining all goals and objectives established in this document is the sometimes unstated goal of giving priority to the needs of those who are at high risk.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with P.L. 93-641 as amended by P.L. 96-79, and R.S. 36:256(B).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.