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Office Of Health Data And Program Management > Fast Facts

FAST FACTS
Maine Health Data

A composite of 2002* health status, health resources, and population data from the
OFFICE OF DATA, RESEARCH, AND VITAL STATISTICS
Bureau of Health
Maine Department of Health and Human Services

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/bohodr/index.htm

*most recent year for which comparable data are available

John Elias Baldacci John R. Nicholas
GovernorCommissioner

 

Births

In 2002, 13,549 babies were born in Maine, an average of 37 births each day.The 2002 births continued a downward trend, begun in 1990, with the smallest number of births recorded since the reporting of vital events was mandated in 1892.

The birth rate also declined, going from 14.1 births/1,000 population in 1990, to 10.5 in 2002.Although this trend was observed nationally, too, the decline was slower: nationally the birth rate fell from 15.8 to 13.5 births/1,000 population.

Birth Rates Per Thousand Population by Year, Maine and U.S.: 1990-2002

  1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Maine 14.1 13.6 13.0 12.1 11.6 11.2 11.1 11.0 11.0 10.7 10.7 10.7 10.5
U.S. 15.8 15.3 15.0 14.6 14.3 14.1 13.9 13.7 13.8 13.7 13.9 13.7 13.5

During 2002, 3,500 Maine babies were delivered by cesarean section (c-section) - 1 of every 4 births - a rate similar to what occurred nationally. During 1993 - 2002, resident births decreased by 10% while c-sections increased by 10%.Both the Maine and national rates are the highest ever reported.

Crude birth rate (number of births per 1,000 population):
Maine rate: 10.5 U.S. rate: 13.5

Births and Birth Rates by Mother’s Age* and Marital Status
 
Rate/1,000 Female Population
Age in Years
Number
Married
Unmarried
15-19 1,138 3.1 22.1
20-24 3,364 37.5 48.6
25-29 3,757 87.8 25.2
30-34 3,392 70.7 10.0
35-39 1,561 26.8 4.1
40-44 310 4.7 0.8

*Table excludes 27 births to mothers younger than 15, older than 44, and with unknown age.

2002 Vital Statistics data are preliminary.

National data are for whites only.

In 2002, 4,417 babies were born to unmarried women representing 33% of all births. In 1993, a decade ago, fewer births (4,058) occurred to unmarried women and represented 27% of all births.

 

DEATHS

12,670 Maine residents died in 2002, resulting in a death rate of 9.8 deaths per 1,000 population. Maine’s age adjusted death rate, 8.5 deaths/1,000, is comparable to the national rate (8.3).

Deaths by Gender:
Male: 6,167 Female: 6,503

 
Maine Rate
US Rate*
Crude death rate
(number of deaths/1,000 population)		 9.8 9.0
Age-adjusted** death rate: 8.5 8.3

10 Leading Causes of Death
Causes of Death Number of Deaths
1. Cancer3,202
2. Heart Disease3,166
3. Cerebrovascular Disease822
4. Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease790
5. Alzheimer’s Disease512
6. Accidents (Unintentional Injuries)506
7. Diabetes Mellitus405
8. Influenza and Pneumonia316
9. Nephritis/Nephrotic Syndrome/Nephrosis232
10. Suicide166

* National Data are for Whites only.
**These are rates that have been standardized to eliminate differences due solely to variations in the age composition of the populations.

In 2002, 7,190 residents died from Cancer, Heart Disease, or Cerebrovascular Disease - Maine’s, and the nation’s, three leading causes of death – representing 57% of all Maine deaths. In 2002 for the first time in Maine, cancer became the leading cause of death. Heart disease, the number one killer for years, fell to second place. Nationally, heart disease remains the number one leading cause of death.

Number and Percent of Deaths
By Age Group
Age at Death Number Percent of All Deaths
<20 154 1.2%
20-34 220 1.7%
35-54 1,043 8.2%
55-64 1,238 9.8%
65-74 2,268 17.9%
75 and older 7,747 61.1%
All ages 12,670 100.0%

 

BRFSS

BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
Health Status: 2002

In 2002, the majority of Maine adults said their health was excellent, very good or good.  15% reported that their health was either fair or poor, similar to the nationwide rate of 14%.

Percentage of Maine adults who reported Fair or Poor Health Status by Age, Education, and Income
All 15.4%
 
Age Group
18-449.8%
45-5415.0%
55-6417.9%
65+28.1%
 
Education
Less than High School32.6%
High School Graduate18.2%
Some College14.7%
College Graduate6.9%
 
Household Income
< $15,00034.2%
$15,000-$24,99921.2%
$25,000-$49,99911.4%
>= $50,0006.4%

People living in the Northeastern region of Maine in 2002 were more likely to report fair or poor health (27%). Those in the Southern region were less likely (11%), compared with the rest of Maine.

 

POPULATION

The 2002 U.S. Census estimated population count ranked Maine’s population size as 40th in the country with a population of 1,297,750. The state’s population has increased by 2% - 20,000 people - since the 2000 census.

POPULATION IN RANK ORDER OF COUNTY: 2002
Cumberland269,083
York195,487
Penobscot146,015
Kennebec118,244
Androscoggin104,805
Aroostook73,122
Oxford55,604
Hancock52,359
Somerset50,963
Knox40,477
Waldo37,628
Sagadohoc35,983
Lincoln34,407
Washington33,401
Franklin29,683
Piscataquis17,203

 

Health Personnel

 
2002 Health Personnel*:
Total
Primary Care
Specialists
Unknown
Allopathic Physicians 2,736 1,133 1,596 7
Osteopathic Physicians 383 221 162 0
Dentists 589 445 122 22
 
Rate/1,000 Population**:
Physicians(MDs & DOs) 2.4 1.0 1.4
Dentists .5 .3 .1

* Data are for active respondents. Physician and dentist data are from the 2002 data files for each profession.
**Population data are from 2002 U.S. Census Bureau data files.

 

PRAMS

PREGNANCY RISK ASSESSMENT MONITORING SYSTEM
Births at Facilities and at Home: 2000-2002

During the 10 year period 1993-2002, 1,320 babies were born at home in Maine; this was 1% of live births — a rate consistent with what was observed nationally.

69% of mothers with facility births went to a doctor or HMO for prenatal care. Other prenatal care sources were hospital clinics (10%), family practice residency programs (8%), rural health centers (4%), and some other source (9%). Women with home births were more likely to use midwives or women’s health centers.

64% of mothers delivering at home reported personal income as a payment source for delivery. Health insurance or Medicaid/MaineCare were cited as more likely payment sources for women delivering in facilities.

Delivery Payment Sources, Maine PRAMS, 2000-2002
 
Medicaid
Personal Income
Health Insurance
Home Birth 2.6% 64.5% 12.4%
Facility Birth 37.4% 14.4% 61.8%

Women with facility births were more likely to have had a premature infant before their current birth than mothers with home births.

Please visit our Website at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/bohodr/index.htm

NON-DISCRIMINATION NOTICE

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, creed, gender, age or national origin, in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services or activities, or its hiring or employment practices. Questions, concerns, complaints or requests for additional information regarding the ADA may be forwarded to the DHHS ADA/EEO Compliance Coordinators, SHS #11, Augusta, ME 04333-0011; (207)-287-4289 (voice) or (207)-287-3488 (voice); (207)-287-4479 (TTY). Individuals who need auxiliary aids or services for effective communication in programs and services of DHHS are invited to make their needs and preferences known to the ADA/EEO Compliance Coordinators. This information is available in alternate formats upon request.

John Elias Baldacci
Governor

John R. Nicholas
Commissioner

Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics
Division of Public Health Systems
Maine Department of Health and Human Services
#11 State House Station
244 Water Street
Augusta, Maine 04333-0011