NEW YORK (CBS NEWS) – Over the past decade, more children are being born to unwed mothers and fathers who live together. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the National Survey of Family Growth, first births among unwed parents between the ages of 15 to 44 have risen from 12 percent in 2002 to 22 percent between 2006 and 2010.
Looking back to 1970, 11 percent of all live births were to unmarried women. In 2009, that number jumped to 41 percent. However, there has been an increase in women living with their partner. While they may be in a committed relationship, the study cited some concerns about unwed parents including less family traditions, less stability, fewer resources and the fact that a large proportion of these births tended to be unplanned. Still, among the births between unwed parents in 1999 and 2002, 35 percent were intended.
The report looked at fertility estimates for men and women over a four year period. In-person interviews with 10,500 men and 13,000 women took place between July 2006 and June 2010.
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